Z (part 10)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
210,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
16,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasis
overall degree of risk: high (2004)

Nationality:
noun: Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian

Ethnic groups:
black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%
note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9%
to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara
7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Religions:
Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs
10% to 20%

Languages:
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the
population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,
indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84%
male: 84.4%
female: 83.7% (2003 est.)

Government Namibia

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa

Government type:
republic

Capital:
Windhoek

Administrative divisions:
13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene,
Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Independence:
21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Constitution:
ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990

Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since November 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Theo-Ben GURIRAB (since 28 August
2002)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)
election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of
vote - NA%

Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats;
two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-year
terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Council - elections for regional councils, to
determine members of the National Council, held 15-16 November 2004
(next to be held November 2009); National Assembly - last held 15-16
November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)
note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, UDF 3, MAG 1, other 4

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)

Political parties and leaders:
Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle
Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president]; Monitor
Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; South West Africa People's
Organization or SWAPO [Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United Democratic
Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 FAX: (202) 986-0443 telephone: (202) 986-0540

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin J. McGUIRE embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: (61) 221601 FAX: (61) 229792

Flag description:
a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left
section and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right
section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is
contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders

Economy Namibia

Economy - overview:
The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing
of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Rich
alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for
gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of
nonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of
uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin,
silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the
population while about half of the population depends on subsistence
agriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50%
of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are a
major problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the
region, hides the great inequality of income distribution; nearly
one-third of Namibians had annual incomes of less than $1,400 in
constant 1994 dollars, according to a 1993 study. The Namibian
economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar
pegged to the South African rand. Privatization of several
enterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreign
investment. Mining of zinc, copper, and silver and increased fish
production led growth in 2003.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $13.85 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $7,200 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.5% industry: 29.8% services: 58.7% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
19.8% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
50% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
70 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.3% (2003)

Labor force:
760,000 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
35% (1998)

Budget:
revenues: $1.434 billion
expenditures: $1.62 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2003)

Public debt:
35.6% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish

Industries:
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond,
lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
26.95 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
603.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
578 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
31.15 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$123 million (2003)

Exports:
$1.09 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed
fish, karakul skins

Exports - partners:
EU 79%, US 4% (2001)

Imports:
$1.371 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment,
chemicals

Imports - partners:
US 50%, EU 31% (2001)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$325.2 million (2003)

Debt - external:
$1.04 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $160 million (2000 est.)

Currency:
Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)

Currency code:
NAD; ZAR

Exchange rates:
Namibian dollars 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 Namibia

Telephones - main lines in use:
127,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
223,700 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: good system; about 6 telephones for each 100
persons
domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio
relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are
by open wire; 100% digital
international: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to South
Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to
other neighboring countries; connected to Africa ONE and South
African Far East (SAFE) submarine cables through South Africa;
satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:
232,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
60,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.na

Internet hosts:
3,164 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
65,000 (2003)

Transportation Namibia

Railways: total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2003)

Highways: total: 66,467 km paved: 9,172 km unpaved: 57,285 km (2000)

Ports and harbors:
Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Merchant marine:
none (2004 est.)

Airports:
136 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 115
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 71
under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)

Military Namibia

Military branches:
Namibian Defense Force: Army (including Naval Wing, Air Wing),
Police

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 468,934 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 279,755 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$111.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.5% (2003)

Transnational Issues Namibia

Disputes - international:
commission established with Botswana to resolve small residual
disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands
along the Linyanti River; Botswana residents protest Namibia's
planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on Popa
Falls; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the
boundary in the Orange River; Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe boundary convergence is not clearly defined or delimited;
Angolan rebels and refugees still reside in Namibia

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Nauru

Introduction Nauru

Background:
Nauru's phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20th
century by a German-British consortium; the island was occupied by
Australian forces in World War I. Nauru achieved independence in
1968 and joined the UN in 1999. Nauru is the world's smallest
independent republic.

Geography Nauru

Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall
Islands

Geographic coordinates:
0 32 S, 166 55 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 21 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 21 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
30 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm

Climate:
tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to
February)

Terrain:
sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with
phosphate plateau in center

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m

Natural resources:
phosphates, fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect
rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination
plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly
by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of
Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources

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:
Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the
Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and
Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator

People Nauru

Population:
12,809 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 2,516; female 2,372)
15-64 years: 60% (male 3,782; female 3,898)
65 years and over: 1.9% (male 128; female 113) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.9 years
male: 19.5 years
female: 20.4 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.87% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
25.61 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
6.95 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: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 12.76 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.33 years
male: 58.78 years
female: 66.06 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.29 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: Nauruan(s)
adjective: Nauruan

Ethnic groups:
Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%

Religions:
Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)

Languages:
Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English
widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and
commercial purposes

Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Government Nauru

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island

Government type:
republic

Capital:
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District

Administrative divisions:
14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada,
Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren

Independence:
31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN
trusteeship)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Constitution:
29 January 1968

Legal system:
acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law

Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ludwig SCOTTY (since 26 October 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term;
election last held 23 October 2004 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: Ludwig SCOTTY was unopposed in the parliamentary
elections for president
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of Parliament
head of government: President Ludwig SCOTTY (since 26 October 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government

Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held not later than May
2006)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - Nauru First Party 3,
independents 15

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:
loose multiparty system; Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru
Party (informal) [leader NA]; Naoero Amo (Nauru First) Party [leader
NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
Nauru does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a UN office
at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, New York 10017; telephone:
(212) 937-0074
consulate(s): Hagatna (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji
is accredited to Nauru

Flag description:
blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and
a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side;
the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator
(the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original
tribes of Nauru

Economy Nauru

Economy - overview:
Revenues of this tiny island have traditionally come from exports
of phosphates, but reserves are now depleted. Few other resources
exist with most necessities being imported, mainly from Australia,
its former occupier and later major source of support. The
rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from
phosphates are serious long-term problems. In anticipation of the
exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts of
phosphate income have been invested in trust funds to help cushion
the transition and provide for Nauru's economic future. As a result
of heavy spending from the trust funds, the government faces virtual
bankruptcy. To cut costs the government has called for a freeze on
wages, a reduction of over-staffed public service departments,
privatization of numerous government agencies, and closure of some
overseas consulates. In recent years Nauru has encouraged the
registration of offshore banks and corporations. In 2004 the
deterioration in housing, hospitals, and other capital plant
continued, and the cost to Australia of keeping the government and
economy afloat has substantially mounted. Few comprehensive
statistics on the Nauru economy exist, with estimates of Nauru's GDP
varying widely.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $60 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
NA

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-3.6% (1993)

Labor force - by occupation: employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation

Unemployment rate:
0% (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $23.4 million
expenditures: $64.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(FY95/96)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts

Industries:
phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
30 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
27.9 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Exports:
$18 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:
phosphates

Exports - partners:
Japan 42.3%, India 38.5%, South Korea 7.7% (2003)

Imports:
$31 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:
food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery

Imports - partners:
Australia 67.9%, Indonesia 10.7%, US 7.1% (2003)

Debt - external:
$33.3 million (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:
$2.25 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.) (2000 est.)

Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:
AUD

Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.2641 (2002)
1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Nauru

Telephones - main lines in use:
1,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,500 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone
communication provided via Australian facilities
domestic: NA
international: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
7,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)

Televisions:
500 (1997)

Internet country code:
.nr

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
300 (2002)

Transportation Nauru

Highways: total: 30 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 6 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:
Nauru

Merchant marine:
none

Airports:
1 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Nauru

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 3,275 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,810 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA

Military - note:
Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement,
defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues Nauru

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
offshore banking recently stopped, remains on Financial Action Task
Force Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continued
failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Navassa Island

Introduction Navassa Island

Background:
This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its
guano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse,
built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of Navassa
Island transferred from the Coast Guard to the Department of the
Interior. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as
a unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity; the following year it
became a National Wildlife Refuge and annual scientific expeditions
have continued.

Geography Navassa Island

Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 35 miles west of Tiburon
Peninsula of Haiti

Geographic coordinates:
18 25 N, 75 02 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 5.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 5.4 sq km

Area - comparative:
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
8 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
marine, tropical

Terrain:
raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by
vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m

Natural resources:
guano

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock but with enough grassland to support
goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus

People Navassa Island

Population:
uninhabited
note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island
(July 2004 est.)

Government Navassa Island

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island

Dependency status:
unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and
Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior, from the Caribbean
Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in
September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of
Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern
side of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced
against the island

Legal system:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:
the flag of the US is used

Economy Navassa Island

Economy - overview:
Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling activities within
refuge waters.

Transportation Navassa Island

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Military Navassa Island

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Navassa Island

Disputes - international: claimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Nepal

Introduction Nepal

Background:
In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule
by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of
government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy
within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist
insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening
to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire
between the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003.
In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family,
including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October
2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for
"incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament and were
subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing
insurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, the
king in June 2004 reinstated the most recently elected Prime
Minister who formed a four-party coalition government, which the
king subsequently tasked with paving the way for elections to be
held in spring of 2005.

Geography Nepal

Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates:
28 00 N, 84 00 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 140,800 sq km
water: 4,000 sq km
land: 136,800 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arkansas

Land boundaries: total: 2,926 km border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical
summers and mild winters in south

Terrain:
Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill
region, rugged Himalayas in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999)

Natural resources:
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of
lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Land use: arable land: 21.68% permanent crops: 0.64% other: 77.68% (2001)

Irrigated land:
11,350 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine
depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer
monsoons

Environment - current issues:
deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives);
contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural
runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular
emissions

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains
eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest - the
world's tallest - on the border with China

People Nepal

Population:
27,070,666 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.4% (male 5,500,698; female 5,151,705)
15-64 years: 57% (male 7,912,553; female 7,518,430)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 483,998; female 503,282) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.9 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.23% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
31.96 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
9.66 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: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 68.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 70.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 67.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.4 years
male: 59.73 years
female: 59.06 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
4.29 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
58,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,400 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepalese

Ethnic groups:
Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa,
Tharu, and others (1995)

Religions:
Hinduism 86.2%, Buddhism 7.8%, Islam 3.8%, other 2.2%
note: only official Hindu state in the world (1995)

Languages:
Nepali (official; spoken by 90% of the population), about a dozen
other languages and about 30 major dialects; note - many in
government and business also speak English (1995)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 45.2%
male: 62.7%
female: 27.6% (2003 est.)

Government Nepal

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal
conventional short form: Nepal

Government type:
parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

Capital:
Kathmandu

Administrative divisions:
14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri,
Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali,
Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

Independence:
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

National holiday:
Birthday of King GYANENDRA, 7 July (1946)

Constitution:
9 November 1990

Legal system:
based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah (succeeded to the
throne 4 June 2001 following the death of his nephew, King DIPENDRA
Bir Bikram Shah)
head of government: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA (since 3 June
2004); note - Prime Minister THAPA resigned 7 May 2004
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
note: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev died in a bloody shooting at
the royal palace on 1 June 2001 that also claimed the lives of most
of the royal family; King BIRENDRA's son, Crown Price DIPENDRA, is
believed to have been responsible for the shootings before fatally
wounding himself; immediately following the shootings and while
still clinging to life, DIPENDRA was crowned king; he died three
days later and was succeeded by his uncle

Legislative branch:

: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council (60 seats; 35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10 by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; one-third of the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) note: Nepal's Parliament was dissolved on 22 May 2002 election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NC 37.3%, CPN/UML 31.6%, NDP 10.4%, NSP 3.2%, Rastriya Jana Morcha 1.4%, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 0.8%, NWPP 0.5%, others 14.8%; seats by party - NC 113, CPN/UML 69, NDP 11, NSP 5, Rastriya Jana Morcha 5, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 1, NWPP 1 elections: House of Representatives - last held 3 and 17 May 1999 (next election NA 2004)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (chief justice is appointed by
the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the
other judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of
the Judicial Council)

Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Madhav
Kumar NEPAL, general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP
(also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP) [Surya Bahadur THAPA,
chairman]; People's Front Nepal (Rastriya Jana Morcha) [Chitra
BAHADUR, chairman]; Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party or NSP [Bhadri
Prasad MANDAL, acting party president]; Nepal Workers and Peasants
Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE, party chairman]; Nepali
Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, party president; Sushil
KOIRALA, general secretary]; Nepali Congress-Democratic [Sher
Bahadur DEUBA, president]; Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal [NA leader]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRAHANDA, chairman; Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI, from Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist, chief negotiator]; numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups

International organization participation:
AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MICAH, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SAARC,
SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK,
UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kedar Bhakta SHRESTHA
FAX: (202) 667-5534
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: (202) 667-4550
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTY
embassy: Panipokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: (1) 411179
FAX: (1) 419963

Flag description:
red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping
right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized
moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun

Economy Nepal

Economy - overview:
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the
world with 42% of its population living below the poverty line.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood
for over 80% of the population and accounting for 40% of GDP.
Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural
produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Security
concerns in the wake of the Maoist conflict and the 11 September
2001 terrorist attacks in the US have led to a decrease in tourism,
a key source of foreign exchange. Nepal has considerable scope for
exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent
foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or
investment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because of
the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its
remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, its civil strife,
and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The international
community's role of funding more than 60% of Nepal's development
budget and more than 28% of total budgetary expenditures will likely
continue as a major ingredient of growth.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $38.29 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 20% services: 40% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line: 42% (1995-96)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.7 (FY95/96)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (2002 est.)

Labor force: 10 million note: severe lack of skilled labor (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 81%, industry 3%, services 16%

Unemployment rate:
47% (2001 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $665 million
expenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(FY99/00 est.)

Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat

Industries:
tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed
mills; cigarette; cement and brick production

Industrial production growth rate:
8.7% (FY99/00)

Electricity - production:
1.755 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.764 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
95 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
227 million kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Exports:
$568 million f.o.b., but does not include unrecorded border trade
with India (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain

Exports - partners:
India 50.7%, US 26%, Germany 6.6% (2003)

Imports:
$1.419 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer

Imports - partners:
India 22.9%, China 13.4%, UAE 12.5%, Singapore 7.1%, Saudi Arabia
5.5%, Kuwait 4.6% (2003)

Debt - external:
$2.7 billion (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:
$424 million (FY00/01)

Currency:
Nepalese rupee (NPR)

Currency code:
NPR

Exchange rates:
Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 76.1414 (2003), 77.8766 (2002),
74.9492 (2001), 71.0938 (2000), 68.2394 (1999)

Fiscal year:
16 July - 15 July

Communications Nepal

Telephones - main lines in use:
371,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
50,400 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair
radiotelephone communication service and mobile cellular telephone
network
domestic: NA
international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications;
microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (January 2000)

Radios:
840,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:
130,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.np

Internet hosts:
917 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)

Internet users:
80,000 (2002)

Transportation Nepal

Railways: total: 59 km narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2003)

Highways: total: 13,223 km paved: 4,073 km unpaved: 9,150 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:
none

Airports:
46 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 29 (2004 est.)

Military Nepal

Military branches:
Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service),
Nepalese Police Force

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,865,849 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,566,576 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 308,776 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$295 million (FY03)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.6% (2003)

Transnational Issues Nepal

Disputes - international:
joint border commission continues to work on small disputed
sections of boundary with India; India has instituted a stricter
border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal
cross-border activities

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 104,235 (Bhutan)
IDPs: 100,000-200,000 (ongoing conflict between government forces
and Maoist rebels; displacement spread across the country) (2004)

Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and
international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast
Asia to the West

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Netherlands

Introduction Netherlands

Background:
The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium
seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained
neutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation by
Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the
Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The
country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU), and
participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.

Geography Netherlands

Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Geographic coordinates:
52 30 N, 5 45 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 41,526 sq km
water: 7,643 sq km
land: 33,883 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries: total: 1,027 km border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Coastline: 451 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain:
mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in
southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m

Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel,
arable land

Land use: arable land: 26.71% other: 72.32% (2001) permanent crops: 0.97%

Irrigated land:
5,650 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
flooding

Environment - current issues:
water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and
nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from
vehicles and refining activities; acid rain

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,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling

Geography - note:
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or
Meuse, and Schelde)

People Netherlands

Population:
16,318,199 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 1,527,316; female 1,457,192)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,598,706; female 5,459,936)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 953,370; female 1,321,679) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.7 years
male: 37.9 years
female: 39.6 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.57% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
11.41 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
2.91 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 5.68 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.68 years
male: 76.15 years
female: 81.34 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.66 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
17,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch

Ethnic groups:
Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-Western origin mainly
Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)

Religions:
Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%,
unaffiliated 40% (1998)

Languages:
Dutch (official language), Frisian (official language)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (2000 est.)
male: NA
female: NA

Government Netherlands

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form: Netherlands
local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
local short form: Nederland

Government type:
constitutional monarchy

Capital:
Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe,
Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg,
Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland,
Zuid-Holland

Dependent areas:
Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence:
23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries
conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; it was not until
1648 that Spain recognized their independence)

National holiday:
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession
to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April

Constitution:
adopted 1815; amended many times, last time 2002

Legal system:
civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution
does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent
WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22
July 2002) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May
2003) and Thom DE GRAAF (since 27 May 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following Second
Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
monarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch
note: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir
apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet
on legislative and administrative policy

Legislative branch:
bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First
Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the
country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the Second
Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held
May 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to be
held May 2007)
election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - CDA 23, PvdA 19, VVD 15, Green Party 5, Socialist
Party 4, D66 3, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party -
CDA 28.6%, PvdA 27.3%, VVD 12.9%, Socialist Party 6.3%, List Pim
Fortuyn 5.7%, Green Party 5.1%, D66 4.1%; seats by party - CDA 44,
PvdA 42, VVD 28, Socialist Party 9, List Pim Fortuyn 8, Green Party
8, D66 6, other 5

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the
monarch)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime Jacques Marcel
VERHAGEN]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or
D66 [Boris DITTRICH]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or
PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Gerard van AS]; People's Party
for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Jozias VAN AARTSEN];
Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; plus a few minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Netherlands Trade Union Federation (FNV) (consisting of a merger of
Socialist and Catholic trade unions); Christian Trade Union
Federation (CNV); Trade Union Federation of Middle and High
Personnel (MHP); Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers
Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational
firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises

International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Boudewijn J. VAN EENENNAAM
consulate(s): Boston
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
FAX: (202) 362-3430
telephone: (202) 244-5300
chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: (70) 310-9209
FAX: (70) 361-4688
consulate(s) general: Amsterdam

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar
to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer;
one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with William I,
Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century

Economy Netherlands

Economy - overview:
The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which depends
heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial
relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current
account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation
hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing,
chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly
mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labor
force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry
and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners,
began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country
continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting
foreign direct investment. Economic growth slowed considerably in
2001-03, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four
years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the
EU average. The government is wrestling with a deteriorating budget
position, and is moving toward the EU 3% of GDP budget deficit limit.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $461.4 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
-0.7% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $28,600 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.5% industry: 24.4% services: 73.1% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
20.1% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 25.1% (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.6 (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
7.46 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 4%, industry 23%, services 73% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:
5.3% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $237.1 billion
expenditures: $249.5 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003)

Public debt:
54.1% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Industries:
agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical
machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction,
microelectronics, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:
-2.1% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
88.32 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
99.42 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
4.209 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
21.49 billion kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
46,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
895,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
1.418 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
2.284 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
88.06 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:
77.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
49.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
49.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
20.78 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.693 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$12.09 billion (2003)

Exports:
$253.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Exports - partners:
Germany 25.3%, Belgium 12.6%, France 10.2%, UK 10.1%, Italy 6%, US
4.5% (2003)

Imports:
$217.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs,
clothing

Imports - partners:
Germany 18.2%, Belgium 10%, US 8%, UK 7.3%, China 6.2%, France 5%
(2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$21.44 billion (2003)

Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $3.3 billion (2002 est.)

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 Netherlands

Telephones - main lines in use:
10.004 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
12.5 million (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed and well maintained
domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; cellular
telephone system is one of the largest in Europe with five major
network operators utilizing the third generation of the Global
System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
international: country code - 31; 9 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1
Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2004)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)

Radios:
15.3 million (1996)

Television broadcast stations:
21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:
8.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.nl

Internet hosts:
4,518,226 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
52 (2000)

Internet users:
8.5 million (2003)

Transportation Netherlands

Railways: total: 2,808 km standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2003)

Highways:
total: 116,500 km
paved: 104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,650 km (1999)

Waterways:
5,046 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2004)

Pipelines:
condensate 325 km; gas 6,998 km; oil 590 km; refined products 716
km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem,
IJmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen

Merchant marine:
total: 635 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,796,460 GRT/5,212,557 DWT
foreign-owned: Belgium 2, Denmark 4, Finland 9, Germany 54, Ireland
14, Norway 9, Singapore 1, Sweden 19, Thailand 1, United Kingdom 31,
United States 16
registered in other countries: 241 (2004 est.)
by type: bulk 1, cargo 375, chemical tanker 59, combination bulk 1,
container 71, liquefied gas 13, multi-functional large load carrier
15, passenger 12, petroleum tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 37, roll
on/roll off 14, short-sea/passenger 2, specialized tanker 7

Airports:
27 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
1 (2003 est.)

Military Netherlands

Military branches:
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval Air
Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal
Constabulary, Defense Interservice Command

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
20 years of age for an all volunteer force (May 2004)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 4,070,043 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,534,392 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 97,624 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$8,044.4 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.6% (2003)

Transnational Issues Netherlands

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
major European producer of ecstasy, illicit amphetamines, and other
synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish
entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial
sector vulnerable to money laundering

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Netherlands Antilles

Introduction Netherlands Antilles

Background:
Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao
was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity
(and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th
century with the construction of oil refineries to service the newly
discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin is
shared with France; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and
is part of the Netherlands Antilles; its northern portion is called
Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe.

Geography Netherlands Antilles

Location:
Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includes
Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela; the other is east of the
Virgin Islands

Geographic coordinates:
12 15 N, 68 45 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 960 sq km
note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint
Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
water: 0 sq km
land: 960 sq km

Area - comparative:
more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: total: 10.2 km border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km

Coastline: 364 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:
tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds

Terrain:
generally hilly, volcanic interiors

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m

Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% other: 90% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are
rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are
subject to hurricanes from July to October

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are divided
geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint
Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern)
group (Bonaire and Curacao)

People Netherlands Antilles

Population:
218,126 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.5% (male 27,387; female 26,094)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 70,024; female 76,552)
65 years and over: 8.3% (male 7,443; female 10,626) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 32.1 years
male: 30.6 years
female: 33.6 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.86% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
15.36 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-0.41 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: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 11.18 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.6 years
male: 73.37 years
female: 77.95 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.02 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: Dutch Antillean(s) adjective: Dutch Antillean

Ethnic groups:
mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian

Religions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist

Languages:
Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English
dialect) predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 96.7%
female: 96.8% (2003 est.)

Government Netherlands Antilles

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
former: Curacao and Dependencies
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen

Dependency status:
part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal
affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense
and foreign affairs

Government type:
parliamentary

Capital:
Willemstad

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note: each island has its own government

Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

National holiday:
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession
to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April

Constitution:
29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as
amended

Legal system:
based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law
influence

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April
1980), represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1
July 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Etienne YS (since 3 June 2004)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister
by the Staten; election last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held
by NA 2006)
note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, PLKP, DP St. Maarten, UP
Bonaire, WIPM Saba, DP Statia
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature)

Legislative branch:
unicameral States or Staten (22 seats - Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St.
Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members are elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PAR 4, PNP 3, PLKP 2, DP St. M 2, UP Bonaire 2, WIPM 1, DP
note: the government of Prime Minister Etienne YS is a coalition of
several parties; current government formed after collapse of FOL led
government on 4 April 2004
elections: last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held in 2006)

Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:
Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Etienne YS]; C 93 [Stanley
BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];
Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; Democratic
Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Democratic
Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS];
Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [Eric
LODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA];
National Alliance [William MARLIN]; National People's Party or PNP
[Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Kenneth
GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI];
Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.];
People's Party or PAPU [Richard HODI]; Pro Curacao Party or PPK
[Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic Labor Movement [Steve HASSELL];
Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA
[Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious Alternative People's Party or Sapp
[Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS [Benny DEMEI];
Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Will JOHNSTON]; Workers'
Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, Rignald LAK, Editha WRIGHT]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO,
WToO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Robert E. SORENSON
consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: (9) 4613066
FAX: (9) 4616489

Flag description:
white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on
a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars
are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the
five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao,
Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

Economy Netherlands Antilles

Economy - overview:
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays
of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.
Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the past
seven years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a
well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the
region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the US
and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate
water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetary
problems hamper reform of the health and pension systems of an aging
population.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.45 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
0.5% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
89,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
15.6% (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $710.8 million
expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(1997 est.)

Agriculture - products:
aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Industries:
tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining
(Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire),
light manufacturing (Curacao)

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
1.061 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
986.8 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Exports:
$1.579 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum products

Exports - partners:
US 21.3%, Venezuela 16%, Bahamas, The 7.6%, Singapore 5.2%,
Honduras 4.9%, Guatemala 4.4% (2003)

Imports:
$2.233 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, food, manufactures

Imports - partners:
Venezuela 64.8%, US 13.6%, Netherlands 7.8% (2003)

Debt - external:
$1.35 billion (1996)

Economic aid - recipient:
IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued its
support with $40 million (2000)

Currency:
Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)

Currency code:
ANG

Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2003), 1.79
(2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Netherlands Antilles

Telephones - main lines in use:
81,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
81,000 (2001)

Telephone system:
general assessment: generally adequate facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: country code - 599; submarine cables - 2; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:
217,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (there is also a cable service, which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels) (2004)

Televisions:
69,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.an

Internet hosts:
119 (2001)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6

Internet users:
2,000 (2000)

Transportation Netherlands Antilles

Highways: total: 600 km paved: 300 km unpaved: 300 km

Ports and harbors:
Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad

Merchant marine:
total: 162 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,317,007 GRT/1,668,499 DWT
registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Belgium 3, Denmark 1, Germany 57, Monaco 4,
Netherlands 70, New Zealand 1, Norway 5, Peru 1, Spain 1, Sweden 5,
Turkey 2, United Kingdom 6
by type: bulk 4, cargo 59, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1,
combination ore/oil 3, container 28, liquefied gas 6,
multi-functional large load carrier 22, passenger 1, petroleum
tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 7, specialized
tanker 1

Airports:
5 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2038 to 3047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Netherlands Antilles

Military branches:
National Guard, Police Force

Military manpower - military age and obligation: 16 years of age for military recruitment; no conscription (July 2002)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 55,536 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 31,025 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1,660 (2004 est.)

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Transnational Issues Netherlands Antilles

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and
Europe; money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@New Caledonia

Introduction New Caledonia

Background:
Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the
19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It
served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for
independence during the 1980s and early 1990s has dissipated.

Geography New Caledonia

Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates:
21 30 S, 165 30 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 19,060 sq km
water: 485 sq km
land: 18,575 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
2,254 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Terrain:
coastal plains with interior mountains

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m

Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper

Land use: arable land: 0.38% permanent crops: 0.33% other: 99.29% (2001)

Irrigated land:
160 sq km (1991)

Natural hazards:
cyclones, most frequent from November to March

Environment - current issues:
erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires

Geography - note:
consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in
the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous
small, sparsely populated islands and atolls

People New Caledonia

Population:
213,679 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.4% (male 32,076; female 30,772)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 69,150; female 68,310)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 6,259; female 7,112) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 27.2 years
male: 26.9 years
female: 27.5 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.33% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
18.98 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
5.64 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: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 8.59 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.78 years
male: 70.82 years
female: 76.89 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.35 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: New Caledonian(s)
adjective: New Caledonian

Ethnic groups:
Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%,
Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%

Languages:
French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92%
female: 90% (1976 est.)

Government New Caledonia

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
conventional short form: New Caledonia
local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances

Dependency status:
overseas territory of France since 1956

Government type:
NA

Capital:
Noumea

Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud

Independence:
none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on
independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is
scheduled for 2014

National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:
the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the
islands; formerly under French law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Commissioner Daniel CONSTANTIN (since 3
July 2002)
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the
government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress; note
- last election held 29 June 2004 when Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU was
elected on the third vote with 8 votes for and 3 abstentions
head of government: President of the Government Marie-Noelle
THEMEREAU (since 10 June 2004)
cabinet: Consultative Committee

Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats;
members are members of the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees
Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 May 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
RPCR-UMP 16, AE 16, UNI-FLNKS 8, UE 7, FN 4, others 3
note: New Caledonia currently holds 1 seat in the French Senate;
elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held not later
than September 2007; between now and 2010 New Caledonia will gain a
second seat in the French Senate); results - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats
to the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 and 16 June
2002 (next to be held by June 2007); results - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2

Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce
Tribunal Court; Children's Court

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; Caleonian
Union or UC [leader NA]; Federation des Comites de Coordination des
Independantistes or FCCI [Francois BURCK]; Front National or FN [Guy
GEORGE]; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Kanak
Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS [leader NA]
(includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); Parti de Liberation Kanak or
PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE]; Rally for Caledonia in
the Republic (anti independent) or RPCR-UMP [Jacques LAFLEUR]; The
Future Together or AE [Harold MARTIN]; Union Nationale pour
l'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no longer exist,
but Paul NEAOUTYINE has since become a president of Parti de
Liberation Kanak or PALIKA; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM
[Victor TUTUGORO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
FZ, ICFTU, PIF (observer), UPU, WFTU, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description:
the flag of France is used

Economy New Caledonia

Economy - overview:
New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources.
Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and
food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel,
substantial financial support from France - equal to more than
one-fourth of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the
economy. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined
with the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic
outlook for the next several years.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $3.158 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
NA

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 30%
services: 65% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.6% (2000 est.)

Labor force:
79,400 (including 15,018 unemployed, 1996)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
19% (1996)

Budget:
revenues: $861.3 million
expenditures: $735.3 million, including capital expenditures of $52
million (1996 est.)

Agriculture - products:
vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products

Industries:
nickel mining and smelting

Industrial production growth rate:
-0.6% (1996)

Electricity - production:
1.613 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.5 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Exports:
$448 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:
ferronickels, nickel ore, fish

Exports - partners:
Japan 21.8%, France 19.2%, Taiwan 14%, Spain 11%, South Korea 8.5%,
Australia 7.2%, Italy 5.1% (2003)

Imports:
$1.007 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
France 46.1%, Australia 9.5%, Singapore 9.3%, New Zealand 4.3%
(2003)

Debt - external:
$79 million (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$880 million annual subsidy from France (1998)

Currency:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the
euro in 2003

Currency code:
XPF

Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 105.73
(2003), 126.72 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications New Caledonia

Telephones - main lines in use:
52,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
80,000 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
107,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
52,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.nc

Internet hosts:
4,449 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
60,000 (2003)

Transportation New Caledonia

Highways: total: 4,825 km paved: 2,287 km unpaved: 2,538 km (1999)

Ports and harbors:
Mueo, Noumea, Thio

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,261 GRT/1,600 DWT
registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Malaysia 1
by type: cargo 1

Airports:
25 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Heliports: 6 (2003 est.)

Military New Caledonia

Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces
(including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues New Caledonia

Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@New Zealand

Introduction New Zealand

Background:
The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In
1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the
Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen
Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the
British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of
land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native
peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent
dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars.
New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances
lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to
address longstanding Maori grievances.

Geography New Zealand

Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Geographic coordinates:
41 00 S, 174 00 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 268,680 sq km
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
water: NA sq km
land: NA sq km

Area - comparative:
about the size of Colorado

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
15,134 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain:
predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m

Natural resources:
natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold,
limestone

Land use: arable land: 5.6% permanent crops: 6.99% other: 87.41% (2001)

Irrigated land:
2,850 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by
species introduced from outside

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: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the
southernmost national capital in the world

People New Zealand

Population:
3,993,817 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.7% (male 443,211; female 422,507)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 1,337,383; female 1,325,683)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 203,084; female 261,949) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 33.4 years
male: 32.6 years
female: 34.1 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.05% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
14.04 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
4.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 6.83 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.49 years
male: 75.5 years
female: 81.61 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,400 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand

Ethnic groups:
New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other European 4.6%,
Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%

Religions:
Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%,
Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)

Languages:
English (official), Maori (official)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA
female: NA

Government New Zealand

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Wellington

Administrative divisions:
13 regions; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne-Hawke's
Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Nelson-Marlborough, Northland, Otago,
Southland, Taranaki, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast

Dependent areas:
Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Independence:
26 September 1907 (from UK)

National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty
over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Constitution:
consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of
the UK and New Zealand Parliaments and The Constitution Act 1986
which is the principal formal charter

Legal system:
based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts
for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Dame Silvia CARTWRIGHT (since 4
April 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December
1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Michael CULLEN (since NA July 2002)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general

Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament
(120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-member
constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional
seats chosen from party lists, all to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 27 July 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NZLP 52, NP 27, NZFP 13, ACT New Zealand 9, Green Party 9, UF 8,
other 2

Judicial branch:
High Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:
ACT New Zealand [Richard PREBBLE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS
and Rod DONALD]; National Party or NP [Don BRASH]; New Zealand First
Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP
[Helen CLARK]; Progressive Coalition [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United
Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986),
APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C,
CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador L. John WOOD consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York FAX: (202) 667-5227 telephone: (202) 328-4800 chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles J. SWINDELLS
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP
96531-1034
telephone: (4) 462-6000
FAX: (4) 499-0490
consulate(s) general: Auckland

Flag description:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with
four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer
half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross
constellation

Economy New Zealand

Economy - overview:
Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand
from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market
access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can
compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes (but
left behind many at the bottom of the ladder), broadened and
deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector,
and contained inflationary pressures. Per capita income has been
rising and is now 80% of the level of the four largest EU economies.
New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade - particularly in
agricultural products - to drive growth, and it has been affected by
the global economic slowdown and the slump in commodity prices. Thus
far the economy has been resilient, and growth should continue at
the same level in 2004. Expenditures on health, education, and
pensions will increase proportionately.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $85.34 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $21,600 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.8% industry: 27.4% services: 67.8% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
20.9% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.3% highest 10%: 29.8% (1991 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.8% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
2.008 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 10%, industry 25%, services 65% (1995)

Unemployment rate:
4.7% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $32.14 billion
expenditures: $30.13 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003)

Public debt:
25.6% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef,
dairy products; fish

Industries:
food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery,
transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

Industrial production growth rate:
1.3% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
37.51 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
34.88 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
42,160 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
132,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
30,220 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
119,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
89.62 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:
6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
58.94 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$-3.446 billion (2003)

Exports:
$15.86 billion (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery

Exports - partners:
Australia 21.8%, US 14.6%, Japan 11%, China 4.9%, UK 4.8% (2003)

Imports:
$16.06 billion (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum,
electronics, textiles, plastics

Imports - partners:
Australia 22.2%, US 11.8%, Japan 11.8%, China 9%, Germany 5.3%
(2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$5.083 billion (2003)

Debt - external:
$37.46 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $99.7 million

Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:
NZD

Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.7229 (2003), 2.1622 (2002),
2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000), 1.8896 (1999)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications New Zealand

Telephones - main lines in use:
1.765 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.599 million (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
domestic: NA
international: country code - 64; submarine cables to Australia and
Fiji; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:
3.75 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
1.926 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.nz

Internet hosts:
474,395 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
36 (2000)

Internet users:
2.11 million (2003)

Transportation New Zealand

Railways: total: 3,898 km narrow gauge: 3,898 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2003)

Highways:
total: 92,053 km
paved: 57,809 km (including at least 190 km of expressways)
unpaved: 34,244 km (2000)

Pipelines:
gas 2,213 km; liquid petroleum gas 79 km; oil 160 km; refined
products 304 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington

Merchant marine:
total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 77,523 GRT/108,352 DWT
by type: bulk 3, cargo 2, container 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll
on/roll off 2
registered in other countries: 8 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Australia 1, Isle of Man 1

Airports:
113 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 46 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 70 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 39 (2004 est.)

Military New Zealand

Military branches:
New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air
Force

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be
deployed until the age of 18 (2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,033,464 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 868,984 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 27,157 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.147 billion (FY03/04)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (FY02)

Transnational Issues New Zealand

Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Nicaragua

Introduction Nicaragua

Background:
The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from
Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was
declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in
1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the
19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in
subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation
and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a
short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas
to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador
caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through
much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and again in 2001
saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its
economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in
1998.

Geography Nicaragua

Location:
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 85 00 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 129,494 sq km
water: 9,240 sq km
land: 120,254 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than the state of New York

Land boundaries: total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

Coastline: 910 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: natural prolongation

Climate:
tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Terrain:
extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior
mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m

Natural resources:
gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish

Land use: arable land: 15.94% permanent crops: 1.94% other: 82.12% (2001)

Irrigated land:
880 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely
susceptible to hurricanes

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:
largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater
body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

People Nicaragua

Population:
5,359,759 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.1% (male 1,038,887; female 1,001,518)
15-64 years: 58.9% (male 1,570,494; female 1,586,706)
65 years and over: 3% (male 71,125; female 91,029) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.2 years
male: 19.8 years
female: 20.6 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.97% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
25.5 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
4.54 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-1.22 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: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 30.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 33.73 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.02 years
male: 67.99 years
female: 72.16 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.89 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,400 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan

Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%,
Amerindian 5%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant

Languages:
Spanish (official)
note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.5%
male: 67.2%
female: 67.8% (2003 est.)

Government Nicaragua

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form: Nicaragua
local short form: Nicaragua
local long form: Republica de Nicaragua

Government type:
republic

Capital:
Managua

Administrative divisions:
15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2
autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region
autonomista); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo,
Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,
Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas

Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:
9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000

Legal system:
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January
2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10
January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January
2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 November
2001 (next to be held by November 2006)
election results: Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (PLC) elected president -
56.3%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 42.3%, Alberto SABORIO (PCN)
1.4%; Jose RIZO Castellon elected vice president

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats;
members are elected by proportional representation and party lists
to serve five-year terms; one seat for previous President, one seat
for runner-up in previous Presidential election
elections: last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance
(ruling party - includes PCCN, PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%,
FSLN 36.55%, PCN 2.12%; seats by party - Liberal Alliance 53, FSLN
38, PCN 1

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for five-year
terms by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:
Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [Mario RAPPACCIOLI];
Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Anibal MARTINEZ Nunez, Pedro REYES
Vallejos]; Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path or PCCN [Guillermo
OSORNO Molina]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN [Salvador
TALAVERA]; Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel
ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [leader NA];
Unity Alliance or AU [leader NA]; Liberal Constitutional Party or
PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Alliance for the Republic or APRE
[Miguel LOPEZ Baldizon, Oscar WENDOLYN Vargas, Karla WHITE]; Liberal
Salvation Movement or MSL [Eliseo NUNEZ Hernandez]; Christian
Alternative Party or AC [Orlando TARDENCILLA Espinoza]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of
eight labor unions including - Farm Workers Association or ATC,
Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and Martyrs
Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, National
Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union of
Employees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG,
Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists of
Nicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is an
umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including -
Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation of
Labor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Labor
or CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan
Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior
Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of
business groups

International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Salvador STADTHAGEN (since 5 December
2003)
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San
Francisco
FAX: (202) 939-6545
telephone: (202) 939-6570, (202) 939-6573
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Calandra MOORE embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 telephone: 266-6010 FAX: 266-9074

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with
the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of
arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE
NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to
the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by
the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in
the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five
blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

Economy Nicaragua

Economy - overview:
Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low per
capita income, massive unemployment, and huge external debt.
Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe.
While the country has made progress toward macroeconomic stability
over the past few years, GDP annual growth of 1.5% - 2.5% has been
far too low to meet the country's need. Nicaragua will continue to
be dependent on international aid and debt relief under the Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Nicaragua has undertaken
significant economic reforms that are expected to help the country
qualify for more than $4 billion in debt relief under HIPC in early
2004. Donors have made aid conditional on the openness of government
financial operation, poverty alleviation, and human rights. A
three-year poverty reduction and growth plan, agreed to with the IMF
in December 2002, guides economic policy.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $11.6 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 28.9% industry: 25.4% services: 45.7% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
28.1% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
50% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 48.8% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
60.3 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.3% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
1.91 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 42%, industry 15%, services 43% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
22% plus considerable underemployment (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $672.5 million
expenditures: $954.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2003 est.)

Public debt:
125.3% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame,
soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products

Industries:
food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles,
clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear,
wood

Industrial production growth rate:
4.4% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
2.549 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.388 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
17 million kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
24,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Current account balance:
$-859 million (2003)

Exports:
$632 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, shrimp and lobster, cotton, tobacco, bananas, beef, sugar,
gold

Exports - partners:
US 35.9%, El Salvador 17.2%, Costa Rica 8.1%, Honduras 7.3%, Mexico
4.6%, Guatemala 4.3% (2003)

Imports:
$1.658 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products,
consumer goods

Imports - partners:
US 24.9%, Venezuela 9.7%, Costa Rica 9%, Mexico 8.4%, Guatemala
7.3%, El Salvador 4.9%, Japan 4.3% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$502 million (2003)

Debt - external:
$5.833 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
Substantial foreign support (2001)

Currency:
gold cordoba (NIO)

Currency code:
NIO

Exchange rates:
gold cordobas per US dollar - 14.2513 (2003), 14.2513 (2002),
13.3719 (2001), 12.6844 (2000), 11.8092 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Nicaragua

Telephones - main lines in use:
171,600 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
202,800 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate system being upgraded by foreign
investment
domestic: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being
expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System
international: country code - 505; satellite earth stations - 1
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
1.24 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
320,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.ni

Internet hosts:
7,094 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)

Internet users:
90,000 (2002)

Transportation Nicaragua

Railways: total: 6 km narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2003)

Highways: total: 19,032 km paved: 2,094 km unpaved: 16,938 km (2000)

Waterways:
2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (1997)

Pipelines:
oil 54 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino,
Rama, San Juan del Sur

Merchant marine:
none

Airports:
176 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 165 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 141 (2004 est.)

Military Nicaragua

Military branches:
Army (includes Navy), Navy

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,399,356 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 858,022 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 61,869 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$30.8 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.2% (2003)

Transnational Issues Nicaragua

Disputes - international:
territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San
Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank region; the 1992 ICJ
ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartite resolution
to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca, which
considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legal dispute over
navigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica

Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and
transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Niger

Introduction Niger

Background:
Not until 1993, 33 years after independence from France, did Niger
hold its first free and open elections. A 1995 peace accord ended a
five-year Tuareg insurgency in the north. Coups in 1996 and 1999
were followed by the creation of a National Reconciliation Council
that effected a transition to civilian rule by December 1999. Niger
is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government
services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The
largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently
disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa.

Geography Niger

Location:
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Geographic coordinates:
16 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 1.267 million sq km
water: 300 sq km
land: 1,266,700 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,697 km
border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km,
Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south

Terrain:
predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains
in south; hills in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m

Natural resources:
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, petroleum

Land use: arable land: 3.54% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 96.45% (2001)

Irrigated land:
660 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
recurring droughts

Environment - current issues:
overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife
populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion)
threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the
Sea

Geography - note:
landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world: northern
four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for
livestock and limited agriculture

People Niger

Population:
11,360,538 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.5% (male 2,749,039; female 2,643,479)
15-64 years: 50.4% (male 2,799,125; female 2,925,133)
65 years and over: 2.1% (male 128,101; female 115,661) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 16.2 years
male: 15.7 years
female: 16.7 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.67% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
48.91 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
21.51 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 122.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 118.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 126.96 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 42.18 years
male: 42.38 years
female: 41.97 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
6.83 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
70,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,800 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, malaria
overall degree of risk: very high (2004)

Nationality:
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien

Ethnic groups:
Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri)
4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 French
expatriates

Religions:
Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian

Languages:
French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 17.6%
male: 25.8%
female: 9.7% (2003 est.)

Government Niger

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger

Government type:
republic

Capital:
Niamey

Administrative divisions:
7 departments (departements, singular - departement) and 1 capital
district* (capitale district); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi,
Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Independence:
3 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:
Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Constitution:
a new constitution was adopted 18 July 1999

Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December 1999);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December
1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of
government; Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since 31 December 1999) was
appointed by the president and shares some executive
responsibilities with the president
cabinet: 23-member Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
second round last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December
2009); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: TANDJA Mamadou reelected president; percent of
vote - TANDJA Mamadou 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; note - expanded from 83
seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
MNSD 47, CDS 22, PNDS 17, Social Democratic Rally 7 RDP 6i ANDP 5,
Party for Socialism and Democarcy in Niger 1, other 8

Judicial branch:
State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ANDP [leader NA]; Democratic
Rally of the People-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Democratic
and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane OUSMANE];
National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara
[Mamadou TANDJA, chairman]; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and
Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni Adamou
DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or
PNDS-Tarayya [Mahamadou ISSOUFOU]; Party for Socialism and Democracy
in Niger [leader NA]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP
[leader NA]; Union of Democratic Patriots and Progressives-Chamoua
or UPDP-Chamoua [Professor Andre' SALIFOU, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA FAX: (202)483-3169 telephone: (202) 483-4224 through 4227 chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gail Dennise Thomas MATHIEU embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone: 72 26 61 through 72 26 64 FAX: 73 31 67, 72-31-46

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with
a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white
band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel
centered in the white band

Economy Niger

Economy - overview:
Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy
centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, and reexport
trade, and increasingly less on uranium, because of declining world
demand. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in January
1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the products
of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral
and multilateral aid - which was suspended following the April 1999
coup d'etat - for operating expenses and public investment. In
2000-01, the World Bank approved a structural adjustment loan of
$105 million to help support fiscal reforms. However, reforms could
prove difficult given the government's bleak financial situation.
The IMF approved a $73 million poverty reduction and growth facility
for Niger in 2000 and announced $115 million in debt relief under
the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Further
disbursements of aid occurred in 2002. Future growth may be
sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral
resources.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $9.062 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $800 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 39% industry: 17% services: 44% (2001)

Population below poverty line: 63% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.5 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
70,000 receive regular wages or salaries (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%

Unemployment rate:
NA (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $320 million - including $134 million from foreign sources
expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $178
million (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice;
cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry

Industries:
uranium mining, cement, brick, textiles, food processing,
chemicals, slaughterhouses

Industrial production growth rate:
NA (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:
242 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
325.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
100 million kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Exports:
$280 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Exports - partners:
France 42.2%, Nigeria 28.9%, Japan 17.2%, Spain 4.4% (2003)

Imports:
$400 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners:
France 16.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 13.8%, China 10.5%, Nigeria 7.7%, US
5.5%, Japan 4.9% (2003)

Debt - external:
$1.6 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$341 million (1997)

Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code:
XOF

Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 581.2
(2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699
(1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Niger

Telephones - main lines in use:
22,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
24,000 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: small system of wire, radio telephone
communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the
southwestern area of Niger
domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio
relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned
international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:
680,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002)

Televisions:
125,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.ne

Internet hosts:
134 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)

Internet users:
15,000 (2002)

Transportation Niger

Highways:
total: 10,100 km
paved: 798 km
unpaved: 9,302 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
300 km
note: Niger River is navigable to Gaya between September and March
(2004)

Ports and harbors:
none

Airports:
27 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military Niger

Military branches:
Army, Air Force, National Intervention and Security Force

Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,460,637 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,333,027 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 122,363 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$21.7 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (2003)

Transnational Issues Niger

Disputes - international:
Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute;
much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria,
remains undemarcated, and ICJ ad hoc judges have been selected to
rule on disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; Lake Chad
Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and
Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over the lake region, which
remains the site of armed clashes among local populations and
militias

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Nigeria

Introduction Nigeria

Background:
Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was
adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government
was completed. The president faces the daunting task of rebuilding a
petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through
corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In
addition, the OBASANJO administration must defuse longstanding
ethnic and religious tensions, if it is to build a sound foundation
for economic growth and political stability. Despite some
irregularities, the April 2003 elections marked the first civilian
transfer of power in Nigeria's history.

Geography Nigeria

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and
Cameroon

Geographic coordinates:
10 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 923,768 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km
land: 910,768 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:
total: 4,047 km
border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger
1,497 km

Coastline:
853 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; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north

Terrain:
southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains
in southeast, plains in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m

Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone,
lead, zinc, arable land

Land use: arable land: 31.29% permanent crops: 2.96% other: 65.75% (2001)

Irrigated land:
2,330 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; flooding

Environment - current issues:
soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water
pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil;
has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land;
rapid urbanization

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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
the Niger enters the country in the northwest and flows southward
through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of
Guinea

People Nigeria

Population:
137,253,133
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: 43.4% (male 29,985,427; female 29,637,684)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 37,502,756; female 36,205,442)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,944,260; female 1,977,564) (2004
est.)

Median age: total: 18.1 years male: 18.2 years female: 17.9 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.45% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
38.24 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
13.99 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.26 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 70.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 67.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 73.55 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.49 years
male: 50.35 years
female: 50.63 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
5.32 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3.6 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
310,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, malaria, Lassa fever
overall degree of risk: very high (2004)

Nationality:
noun: Nigerian(s)
adjective: Nigerian

Ethnic groups:
Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country, is composed of
more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and
politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo
(Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%

Religions:
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%

Languages:
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68%
male: 75.7%
female: 60.6% (2003 est.)

Government Nigeria

Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria

Government type:
republic transitioning from military to civilian rule

Capital:
Abuja; note - on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially
transferred from Lagos to Abuja; most federal government offices
have now made the move to Abuja

Administrative divisions:
36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra,
Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo,
Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa,
Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger,
Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara

Independence:
1 October 1960 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)

Constitution:
new constitution adopted May 1999

Legal system:
based on English common law, Islamic Shariah law (only in some
northern states), and traditional law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: president is elected by popular vote for no more than two
four-year terms; election last held 19 April 2003 (next to be held
NA 2007)
election results: Olusegun OBASANJO elected president; percent of
vote - Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) 61.9%, Muhammadu BUHARI (ANPP) 31.2%,
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu OJUKWU (APGA) 3.3%, other 3.6%

Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (107 seats, members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House of
Representatives (346 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held NA
2007); House of Representatives - last held 12 April 2003 (next to
be held NA 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 53.6%,
ANPP 27.9%, AD 9.7%; seats by party - PDP 73, ANPP 28, AD 6; House
of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 54.5%, ANPP
27.4%, AD 9.3%, other 8.8%; seats by party - PDP 213, ANPP 95, AD
31, other 7; note - two constituencies are not reported

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the President); Federal Court of
Appeal (judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice
of the Advisory Judicial Committee)

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or AD [Alhaji Adamu ABDULKADIR]; All Nigeria
Peoples' Party or ANPP [Don ETIEBET]; All Progressives Grand
Alliance or APGA [Chekwas OKORIE]; National Democratic Party or NDP
[Aliyu Habu FARI]; Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Audu OGBEH];
Peoples Redemption Party or PRP [Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA]; Peoples
Salvation Party or PSP [Lawal MAITURARE]; United Nigeria Peoples
Party or UNPP [Saleh JAMBO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC [Adams OSHIOMOLE]

International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB,
OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR,
UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jibril Muhammad AMINU
consulate(s) general: Atlanta and New York
FAX: (202) 775-1385
telephone: (202) 986-8400
chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Howard Franklin JETER
embassy: 7 Mambilla Drive, Abuja
mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos
telephone: (9) 523-0916/0906/5857/2235/2205
FAX: (9) 523-0353

Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green

Economy Nigeria

Economy - overview:
Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability,
corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic
management, is undertaking some reforms under the new civilian
administration. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify
the economy away from overdependence on the capital-intensive oil
sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings,
and about 65% of budgetary revenues. The largely subsistence
agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population
growth - Nigeria is Africa's most populous country - and the
country, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food.
Following the signing of an IMF stand-by agreement in August 2000,
Nigeria received a debt-restructuring deal from the Paris Club and a
$1 billion credit from the IMF, both contingent on economic reforms.
Nigeria pulled out of its IMF program in April 2002, after failing
to meet spending and exchange rate targets, making it ineligible for
additional debt forgiveness from the Paris Club. The government has
lacked the political will to implement the market-oriented reforms
urged by the IMF, such as to modernize the banking system, to curb
inflation by blocking excessive wage demands, and to resolve
regional disputes over the distribution of earnings from the oil
industry. During 2003, however, the government deregulated fuel
prices and announced the privatization of the country's four oil
refineries. GDP growth probably will rise marginally in 2004, led by
oil and natural gas exports.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $114.8 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
7.1% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $900 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30.8% industry: 43.8% services: 25.4% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
27.7% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
60% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 40.8% (1996-97)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.6 (1996-97)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13.8% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
54.36 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 70%, industry 10%, services 20% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
NA (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $8.026 billion
expenditures: $11.09 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)

Public debt:
28.6% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava
(tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish

Industries:
crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber,
wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction
materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing,
ceramics, steel

Industrial production growth rate:
2.3% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
15.67 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
14.55 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
20 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
2.256 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
275,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
27 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:
15.68 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
7.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
7.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
4.007 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$1.439 billion (2003)

Exports:
$21.8 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Exports - partners:
US 38.3%, India 9.9%, Brazil 6.8%, Spain 6.2%, France 5.6%, Japan
4% (2003)

Imports:
$14.54 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food
and live animals

Imports - partners:
US 15.6%, UK 9.6%, Germany 7.3%, China 7.2%, Italy 4.3% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$7.128 billion (2003)

Debt - external:
$31.07 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
IMF $250 million (1998)

Currency:
naira (NGN)

Currency code:
NGN

Exchange rates:
nairas per US dollar - 129.222 (2003), 120.578 (2002), 111.231
(2001), 101.697 (2000), 92.3381 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Nigeria

Telephones - main lines in use:
853,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,149,500 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: an inadequate system, further limited by poor
maintenance; major expansion is required and a start has been made
domestic: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave
radio relay, a domestic communications satellite system with 19
earth stations, and a coastal submarine cable; mobile cellular
facilities and the Internet are available
international: country code - 234; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); fiber optic
submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)

Radios:
23.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations and 15 repeater stations) (2002)

Televisions:
6.9 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.ng

Internet hosts:
1,142 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2000)

Internet users:
750,000 (2003)

Transportation Nigeria

Railways:
total: 3,557 km
narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge
standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)

Highways:
total: 194,394 km
paved: 60,068 km (including 1,194 km of expressways)
unpaved: 134,326 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
8,600 km (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks)
(2004)

Pipelines:
condensate 105 km; gas 1,896 km; oil 3,638 km; refined products
3,626 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Warri

Merchant marine:
total: 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 327,808 GRT/608,076 DWT
by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 5, petroleum tanker 30,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
registered in other countries: 26 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Norway 2, Pakistan 1, Togo 1, United States 1

Airports:
70 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.)

Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)

Military Nigeria

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 32,665,407 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 18,763,229 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1,452,231 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$469.8 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (2003)

Transnational Issues Nigeria

Disputes - international:
ICJ ruled in 2002 on the entire Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritime
boundary but the parties formed a Joint Border Commission to resolve
differences bilaterally and have commenced with demarcation in
less-contested sections of the boundary, starting in Lake Chad in
the north; Nigeria initially rejected cession of the Bakasi
Peninsula; the ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of
Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of
Guinea, but imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision, the
unresolved Bakasi allocation, and a sovereignty dispute between
Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the
Ntem River all contribute to the delay in implementation; several
villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Benin; Lake Chad
Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and
Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over lake region, which
remains the site of armed clashes among local populations and
militias

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 250,000 (communal violence between Christians and Muslims
since President Obasanjo's election in 1999) (2004)

Illicit drugs:
a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East
Asian, and North American markets; safehaven for Nigerian
narcotraffickers operating worldwide; major money-laundering center;
massive corruption and criminal activity, remains on Financial
Action Task Force Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for
continued failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering
control regime

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Niue

Introduction Niue

Background:
Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences
between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook
Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The
population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in
1966 to about 2,100 in 2004), with substantial emigration to New
Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.

Geography Niue

Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Geographic coordinates:
19 02 S, 169 52 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 260 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 260 sq km

Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
64 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain:
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Natural resources:
fish, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 15.38%
permanent crops: 11.54%
other: 73.08% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
typhoons

Environment - current issues: increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note: one of world's largest coral islands

People Niue

Population: 2,156 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.01% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
NA (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
NA 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: Niuean(s)
adjective: Niuean

Ethnic groups:
Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)

Religions:
Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related
to the London Missionary Society) 75%, Latter-Day Saints 10%, other
15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day
Adventist)

Languages:
Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan;
English

Literacy: definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA female: NA

Government Niue

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue former: Savage Island

Dependency status:
self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974;
Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains
responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these
responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised
at the request of the Government of Niue

Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Alofi

Administrative divisions:
none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as
defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the
second order

Independence:
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary
government in free association with New Zealand

National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty
over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Constitution:
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

Legal system:
English common law
note: Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner
John BRYAN (since NA May 2000)
election results: Young VIVIAN elected premier; percent of
Legislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN (NPP) 70%, Hunukitama
HUNUKI (AI) 30%
elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 1 May
2002 (next to be held NA May 2005)
head of government: Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common
roll and 14 are village representatives)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NPP 9, independents 11; note - all 20 seats were reelected
elections: last held 21 March 2002 (next to be held NA March 2005)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Political parties and leaders:
Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]; Alliance of
Independents or AI [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, FAO, PIF, Sparteca, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Flag description:
yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant;
the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large
one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of
the bold red cross

Economy Niue

Economy - overview:
The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of
geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population.
Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall
is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are
used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government
expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The
agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening,
although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists
primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil,
honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign
collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent
years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration
of Niueans to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the
promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although
Premier LAKATANI announced in February 2002 that Niue will shut down
the offshore banking industry. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002
was about $2.6 million.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.6 million (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
-0.3% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: 55%

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (1995)

Labor force:
NA (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in
government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Unemployment rate:
NA (March 1999)

Budget:
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava
(tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Industries:
tourism, handicrafts, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
3 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.79 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
20 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Exports:
$137,200 (1999)

Exports - commodities:
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit
products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

Exports - partners:
New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2000)

Imports:
$2.38 million (1999)

Imports - commodities:
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels,
lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Imports - partners:
New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US (2000)

Debt - external:
$418,000 (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$2.6 million from New Zealand (2002)

Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:
NZD

Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.7229 (2003), 2.1620 (2002),
2.3776 (2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Niue

Telephones - main lines in use:
1,100 est (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
400 (2002)

Telephone system:
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
island
international: country code - 683

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:
.nu

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Niue

Highways: total: 234 km paved: 86 km unpaved: 148 km (2001)

Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only

Merchant marine:
none

Airports:
1 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Niue

Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues Niue

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Norfolk Island

Introduction Norfolk Island

Background:
Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony
(1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the
island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the
Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.

Geography Norfolk Island

Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates:
29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 34.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 34.6 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
32 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
typhoons (especially May to July)

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
most of the 32-km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs,
but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on
Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated

People Norfolk Island

Population: 1,841 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.2% 15-64 years: 63.9% 65 years and over: 15.9% (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
-0.01% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Sex ratio:
NA

Infant mortality rate:
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

Total fertility rate:
NA 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: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic groups:
descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander,
Polynesians

Religions:
Anglican 37.4%, Uniting Church in Australia 14.5%, Roman Catholic
11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, none 12.2%, unknown 17.4%, other
3.9% (1996)

Languages:
English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and
ancient Tahitian

Literacy:
NA

Government Norfolk Island

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Dependency status:
territory of Australia; Canberra administers Commonwealth
responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the Department of
Environment, Sport, and Territories

Government type:
NA

Capital:
Kingston

Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)

Independence:
none (territory of Australia)

National holiday:
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June
(1856)

Constitution:
Norfolk Island Act of 1979

Legal system:
based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English
common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or
Norfolk Island law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
and Australia are represented by Administrator Grant TAMBLING (since
1 November 2003)
election results: Geoffrey Robert GARDNER elected chief minister;
percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the
governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years;
election last held 29 November 2001 (next to be held by December
2004)
head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister Geoffrey
Robert GARDNER (since 5 December 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of
the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and
acts as an advisor to the administrator

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by
electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be
given to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 29 November 2001 (next to be held by December
2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:
three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a
large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider
white band

Economy Norfolk Island

Economy - overview:
Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over
the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among
inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has
become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - NA

GDP - real growth rate:
NA

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - NA

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA

Labor force:
NA

Labor force - by occupation:
tourism NA, subsistence agriculture NA

Unemployment rate:
NA

Budget:
revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(FY92/93)

Agriculture - products:
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables,
fruit; cattle, poultry

Industries:
tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Exports:
$1.5 million f.o.b. (FY91/92)

Exports - commodities:
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm,
small quantities of avocados

Exports - partners:
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Imports:
$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92)

Imports - commodities:
NA

Imports - partners:
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Debt - external:
NA

Economic aid - recipient:
NA

Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:
AUD

Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002),
1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Norfolk Island

Telephones - main lines in use: 2,532; note: a mix of analog (2500) and digital (32) circuits (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (proposed cellular service disallowed in August 2002 island referendum) (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA
international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with
Australia, New Zealand, and Canada; satellite service planned for
near future

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
2,500 (1996)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (local programming station plus two repeaters that bring in
Australian programs by satellite) (1998)

Televisions:
1,200 (1996)

Internet country code:
.nf

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Norfolk Island

Highways: total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km (2001)

Ports and harbors:
none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Merchant marine:
none

Airports:
1 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Norfolk Island

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues Norfolk Island

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Northern Mariana Islands

Introduction Northern Mariana Islands

Background:
Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the
Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the
1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links
with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A
covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US
was approved in 1975. A new government and constitution went into
effect in 1978.

Geography Northern Mariana Islands

Location:
Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters
of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:
15 12 N, 145 45 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 477 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
water: 0 sq km
land: 477 sq km

Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
1,482 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little
seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy
season July to October

Terrain:
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing
coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Natural resources:
arable land, fish

Land use:
arable land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 82.61% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August
to November)

Environment - current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development

Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

People Northern Mariana Islands

Population:
78,252 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.3% (male 8,286; female 7,625)
15-64 years: 78.1% (male 25,579; female 35,534)
65 years and over: 1.6% (male 603; female 625) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 29.2 years
male: 31.4 years
female: 28.2 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.71% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
19.77 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
2.3 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
9.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.72 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 0.79 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 7.18 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.67 years
male: 73.11 years
female: 78.38 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.33 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: NA
adjective: NA

Ethnic groups:
Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese,
Chinese, Filipino, Korean

Religions:
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs
and taboos may still be found)

Languages:
English, Chamorro, Carolinian
note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)

Government Northern Mariana Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
former: Mariana Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands)

Dependency status:
commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the
Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior,
Office of Insular Affairs

Government type:
commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor,
lieutenant governor, and legislature

Capital:
Saipan

Administrative divisions:
none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order;
Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Independence:
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

National holiday:
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Constitution:
Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution
of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1
January 1978

Legal system:
based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws,
and taxation

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens
but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001)
head of government: Governor Juan N. BABAUTA (since NA January
2002); Lieutenant Governor Diego T. BENAVENTE (since NA January 2002)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election
last held NA November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2005)
election results: Juan N. BABAUTA elected governor in a four-way
race; percent of vote - Juan N. BABAUTA (Republican Party) 49%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the
House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve two-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - Covenant Party 9, Republican Party 7,
Democratic Party 1, independent 1
note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting
delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or
"resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party
- Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)
elections: Senate - last held 1 November 2003 (next to be held 5
November 2005); House of Representatives - last held 1 November 2003
(next to be held 5 November 2005)

Judicial branch:
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [NA];
Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
Interpol (subbureau)

Flag description:
blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray
silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in
building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

Economy Northern Mariana Islands

Economy - overview:
The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from
the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated
government revenues have grown. The key tourist industry employs
about 50% of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of
GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have
exceeded one-half million in recent years, but financial
difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The
agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms
producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment
production is by far the most important industry with employment of
17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under
duty and quota exemptions.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $900 million
note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
NA

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $12,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (1997 est.)

Labor force:
6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717
foreign workers (June 1995)

Labor force - by occupation:
NA

Unemployment rate:
NA

Budget:
revenues: $193 million
expenditures: $223 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(FY01/02 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Industries:
tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh

Exports:
NA

Exports - commodities:
garments

Exports - partners:
US (2000)

Imports:
NA

Imports - commodities:
food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
US, Japan (2000)

Debt - external:
NA

Economic aid - recipient:
extensive funding from US

Currency:
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Northern Mariana Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:
21,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,000 (2000)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
NA

Television broadcast stations:
1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two
cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite
networks) (1997)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:
.mp

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2001)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Northern Mariana Islands

Highways: total: 362 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1991)

Ports and harbors:
Saipan, Tinian

Merchant marine:
none

Airports:
6 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

Heliports:
1 (2003 est.)

Military Northern Mariana Islands

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Northern Mariana Islands

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Norway

Introduction Norway

Background:
Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the
adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion
of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In
1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that was to last
for more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the
cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution.
Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its
constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king.
Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905
referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained
neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping.
Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but
was nonetheless occupied for five-years by Nazi Germany (1940-45).
In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of
NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s
boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on
containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for
the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in
1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.

Geography Norway

Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Sweden

Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 324,220 sq km
land: 307,860 sq km
water: 16,360 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 2,551 km
border countries: Finland 736 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km

Coastline:
21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long
fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km)

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm contiguous zone: 10 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder
interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy
year-round on west coast

Terrain:
glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by
fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented
by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium,
pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use: arable land: 2.87% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.13% (2001)

Irrigated land:
1,270 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
rockslides, avalanches

Environment - current issues:
water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting
lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions

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,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, 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:
about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much
indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air
routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines
in world

People Norway

Population:
4,574,560 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.8% (male 462,899; female 440,725)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 1,520,481; female 1,473,101)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 284,170; female 393,184) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 37.9 years
male: 37 years
female: 38.8 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.41% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
11.89 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
9.51 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
1.74 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 4.11 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.25 years
male: 76.64 years
female: 82.01 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.78 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,800 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian

Ethnic groups:
Norwegian, Sami 20,000

Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 86% (state church), other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, other 1%, none and unknown 10% (1997)

Languages:
Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official)
note: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: NA
female: NA

Government Norway

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form: Norway
local short form: Norge
local long form: Kongeriket Norge

Government type:
constitutional monarchy

Capital:
Oslo

Administrative divisions:
19 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder,
Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland,
Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane,
Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold

Dependent areas:
Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Independence:
7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26
October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)

National holiday:
Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Constitution:
17 May 1814, modified in 1884

Legal system:
mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law
traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature
when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20
July 1973)
head of government: Prime Minister Kjell Magne BONDEVIK (since 19
October 2001)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of
Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentary
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
monarch with the approval of the Parliament

Legislative branch:
modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (165 seats; members are
elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 September 2001 (next to be held NA September
2005)
note: for certain purposes, the Parliament divides itself into two
chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house
or Lagting
election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 24.3%,
Conservative Party 21.2%, Progress Party 14.6%, Socialist Left Party
12.5%, Christian People's Party 12.4%, Center Party 5.6%, Liberal
Party 3.9%, Coastal Party 1.7%, other 3.8%; seats by party - Labor
Party 43, Conservative Party 38, Progress Party 26, Socialist Left
Party 23, Christian People's Party 22, Center Party 10, Liberal
Party 2, Coastal Party 1

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:
Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian People's Party [Dagfinn
HOYBRATEN]; Coastal Party [Steinar BASTESEN]; Conservative Party
[Erna SOLBERG]; Labor Party [Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party [Lars
SPONHEIM]; Progress Party [Carl I. HAGEN]; Socialist Left Party
[Kristin HALVORSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA,
ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMEE, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Knut VOLLEBAEK
chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and San
Francisco
FAX: (202) 337-0870
telephone: (202) 333-6000

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John D. ONG embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707 telephone: (22) 44 85 50 FAX: (22) 44 33 63

Flag description:
red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges
of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy Norway

Economy - overview:
The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of welfare
capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity and
government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as
the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises).
The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum,
hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on
its oil production and international oil prices, with oil and gas
accounting for one-third of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia
export more oil than Norway. Norway opted to stay out of the EU
during a referendum in November 1994. The government has moved ahead
with privatization. With arguably the highest quality of life
worldwide, Norwegians still worry about that time in the next two
decades when the oil and gas begin to run out. Accordingly, Norway
has been saving its oil-boosted budget surpluses in a Government
Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and now is valued at more
than $43 billion. GDP growth was a lackluster 1% in 2002 and 0.5% in
2003 against the background of a faltering European economy.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $171.7 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
0.6% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $37,800 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.5% industry: 36.2% services: 61.2% (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):
17.8% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 21.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25.8 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
2.38 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture, forestry, and fishing 4%, industry 22%, services 74% (1995)

Unemployment rate:
4.7% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $129.8 billion
expenditures: $105.5 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)

Public debt:
22.1% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish

Industries:
petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper
products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:
-3.5% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
120.1 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
115.3 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
7.162 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
10.76 billion kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
3.408 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
171,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
3.466 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
88,870 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
9.859 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:
54.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
4.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
50.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.716 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$29.34 billion (2003)

Exports:
$67.27 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals,
chemicals, ships, fish

Exports - partners:
UK 21.3%, Germany 13%, Netherlands 9.6%, US 8.7%, France 8.2%,
Sweden 7.4% (2003)

Imports:
$40.19 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Sweden 16.1%, Germany 13.3%, Denmark 7.9%, UK 7.2%, US 5.2%,
Netherlands 4.5%, China 4.4%, France 4.3%, Italy 4% (2003)

Debt - external:
$0 (Norway is a net external creditor) (2003 est.)

Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)

Currency:
Norwegian krone (NOK)

Currency code:
NOK

Exchange rates:
Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002),
8.9917 (2001), 8.8018 (2000), 7.7992 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Norway

Telephones - main lines in use:
3.343 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
4,163,400 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the most
advanced telecommunications networks in Europe
domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; moreover, the
prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of cellular mobile
systems instead of fixed-wire systems
international: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4
coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean
regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the
other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
4.03 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:
2.03 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.no

Internet hosts:
593,850 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (2000)

Internet users:
2.288 million (2002)

Transportation Norway

Railways: total: 4,077 km standard gauge: 4,077 km 1.435-m gauge (2,518 km electrified) (2003)

Highways:
total: 91,454 km
paved: 69,505 km (including 143 km of expressways)
unpaved: 21,949 km (2000)

Pipelines:
condensate 411 km; gas 6,199 km; oil 2,213 km; oil/gas/water 746
km; unknown (oil/water) 38 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Bergen, Drammen, Floro, Hammerfest, Harstad, Haugesund,
Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger, Tromso,
Trondheim

Merchant marine:
total: 693 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,820,495 GRT/27,449,456 DWT
foreign-owned: Cyprus 3, Denmark 23, Estonia 2, Germany 12, Greece
15, Hong Kong 1, Iceland 2, Japan 10, Lithuania 1, Malta 1, Marshall
Islands 1, Monaco 33, Poland 1, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 12, Sweden
31, United Kingdom 4, United States 5
registered in other countries: 695 (2004 est.)
by type: bulk 62, cargo 128, chemical tanker 124, combination bulk
7, combination ore/oil 32, container 15, liquefied gas 84,
multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 6, petroleum tanker
113, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 48, short-sea/passenger
22, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 43

Airports:
101 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 65
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)
914 to 1,523 m: 14

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 36 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 29 (2004 est.)

Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)

Military Norway

Military branches:
Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (including Coast Artillery and
Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske
Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard

Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age for women; 16 years of age for volunteers to the Home Guard; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,106,484 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 916,155 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 27,252 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4,033.5 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.9% (2003)

Transnational Issues Norway

Disputes - international:
Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land
and its continental shelf); despite recent discussions, Russia and
Norway continue to dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea
and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits
within the Svalbard Treaty zone

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Oman

Introduction Oman

Background:
In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as
sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened
the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing
political and military relationship with the UK. Oman's moderate,
independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations
with all Middle Eastern countries.

Geography Oman

Location:
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian
Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Geographic coordinates:
21 00 N, 57 00 E

Map references:
Middle East

Area:
total: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries: total: 1,374 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

Coastline: 2,092 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong
southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Terrain:
central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium,
gypsum, natural gas

Land use: arable land: 0.12% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 99.74% (2001)

Irrigated land:
620 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in
interior; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited
natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of
Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

People Oman

Population: 2,903,165 note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.4% (male 628,078; female 603,829)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 955,765; female 643,687)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 38,761; female 33,045) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.3 years
male: 22.1 years
female: 16.4 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
3.35% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
37.12 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
3.91 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.28 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: 1.49 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female
total population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 23.18 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.85 years
male: 70.66 years
female: 75.16 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
5.9 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,300 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani

Ethnic groups:
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan,
Bangladeshi), African

Religions:
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu

Languages:
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects

Literacy: definition: NA total population: 75.8% male: 83.1% female: 67.2% (2003 est.)

Government Oman

Country name:
conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
former: Muscat and Oman
local short form: Uman

Government type:
monarchy

Capital:
Muscat

Administrative divisions:
5 regions (manaatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 3 governorates*
(muhaafazaat, singular - muhaafaza) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al
Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat*, Musandam*, Zufar*

Independence:
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

National holiday:
Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

Constitution:
none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal
decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a
constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal
succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from
holding interests in companies doing business with the government,
establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil
liberties for Omani citizens

Legal system:
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the
monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
in Oman's most recent Majlis al-Shura elections in 2003, suffrage
was universal for all Omanis over age 21 except for members of the
military and security forces; the next Majlis al-Shura elections are
scheduled for 2007

Executive branch:
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said
(since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al
Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of
state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch:
bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis
al-Dawla (58 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory
powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats;
members elected by universal suffrage for four-year term; body has
some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only
advisory powers)
elections: last held 4 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: NA

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has
judges who practice secular and Sharia (Islamic) law

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,
LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Ali bin Thani al-KHUSSAIBY
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988
FAX: (202) 745-4933

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Lewis BALTIMORE III
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos,
Muscat
telephone: 24-698989
FAX: 24-699771

Flag description:
three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with
a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem
(a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords
in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band

Economy Oman

Economy - overview:
Oman is a small, well-off middle Eastern economy with large oil and
gas resources, a substantial trade surplus, and low inflation. The
government is moving ahead with privatization of its utilities, the
development of a body of commercial law to facilitate foreign
investment, and increased budgetary outlays. Oman continues to
liberalize its markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTO)
in November 2000. In order to reduce unemployment and limit
dependence on foreign countries, the government is encouraging the
replacement of expatriate workers with local people, i.e., the
process of Omanization. Training in information technology, business
management, and English support this objective. Industrial
development plans focus on gas resources.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $36.7 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $13,100 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.1% industry: 42.1% services: 54.8% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
13% 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):
-0.3% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
920,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA

Unemployment rate:
NA

Budget:
revenues: $8.218 billion
expenditures: $7.766 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)

Public debt:
15.6% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish

Industries:
crude oil production and refining, natural gas production,
construction, cement, copper

Industrial production growth rate:
0.2% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
9.274 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
8.625 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
963,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
53,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
5.703 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:
13.77 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
6.34 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
7.43 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
846.4 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$2.173 billion (2003)

Exports:
$11.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Exports - partners:
South Korea 18.7%, China 18.5%, Japan 16.2%, Thailand 12.2%, UAE
7.8%, Iran 4.1% (2003)

Imports:
$5.659 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
livestock, lubricants

Imports - partners:
UAE 21.6%, Japan 17.1%, US 6.2%, UK 5.6%, Germany 4.4%, India 4.4%
(2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$3.594 billion (2003)

Debt - external:
$5.973 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$76.4 million (1995)

Currency:
Omani rial (OMR)

Currency code:
OMR

Exchange rates:
Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (2003), 0.3845 (2002), 0.3845
(2001), 0.3845 (2000), 0.3845 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Oman

Telephones - main lines in use:
233,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
464,900 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire,
microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited
coaxial cable
domestic: open-wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a
domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
international: country code - 968; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios:
1.4 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)

Televisions:
1.6 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.om

Internet hosts:
726 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
180,000 (2002)

Transportation Oman

Highways:
total: 34,965 km
paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)

Pipelines:
gas 3,754 km; oil 3,212 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut

Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 15,430 GRT/6,360 DWT by type: passenger 2 registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports: 135 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 130 914 to 1,523 m: 34 under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 52 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)

Military Oman

Military branches:
Royal Omani Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 796,792 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 443,006 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 31,274 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$242.07 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
11.4% (2003)

Transnational Issues Oman

Disputes - international: boundary agreement signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Pacific Ocean

Introduction Pacific Ocean

Background:
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world's five oceans
(followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and
Arctic Ocean). Strategically important access waterways include the
La Perouse, Tsugaru, Tsushima, Taiwan, Singapore, and Torres
Straits. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization
in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean,
removed the portion of the Pacific Ocean south of 60 degrees south.

Geography Pacific Ocean

Location:
body of water between the Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia, and the
Western Hemisphere

Geographic coordinates:
0 00 N, 160 00 W

Map references:
Political Map of the World

Area:
total: 155.557 million sq km
note: includes Bali Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East
China Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Tonkin, Philippine Sea, Sea of
Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, and other
tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:
about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of the global
surface; larger than the total land area of the world

Coastline:
135,663 km

Climate:
planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind patterns exhibit
remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade winds and
westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by seasonal
fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of
Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central America;
continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much less
pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same latitude
in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is monsoonal - a
rainy season occurs during the summer months, when moisture-laden
winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry season during the
winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian landmass back to
the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike southeast and
east Asia from May to December

Terrain:
surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by a
clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) and
in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; in
the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of
Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica
reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the
eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the
western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana
Trench, which is the world's deepest

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench -10,924 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:
oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel
aggregates, placer deposits, fish

Natural hazards:
surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity
sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject to
tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May to
December (most frequent from July to October); tropical cyclones
(hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike Central America and
Mexico from June to October (most common in August and September);
cyclical El Nino/La Nina phenomenon occurs in the equatorial
Pacific, influencing weather in the Western Hemisphere and the
western Pacific; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme
north from October to May; persistent fog in the northern Pacific
can be a maritime hazard from June to December

Environment - current issues:
endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter,
seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and
South China Sea

Geography - note:
the major chokepoints are the Bering Strait, Panama Canal, Luzon
Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides the Pacific
Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean;
dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in the
southwestern Pacific Ocean

Economy Pacific Ocean

Economy - overview:
The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the world economy and
particularly to those nations its waters directly touch. It provides
low-cost sea transportation between East and West, extensive fishing
grounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals, and sand and gravel
for the construction industry. In 1996, over 60% of the world's fish
catch came from the Pacific Ocean. Exploitation of offshore oil and
gas reserves is playing an ever-increasing role in the energy
supplies of the US, Australia, NZ, China, and Peru. The high cost of
recovering offshore oil and gas, combined with the wide swings in
world prices for oil since 1985, has led to fluctuations in new
drillings.

Transportation Pacific Ocean

Ports and harbors:
Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Kao-hsiung (Taiwan), Los Angeles
(US), Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South Korea), San Francisco (US),
Seattle (US), Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney (Australia),
Vladivostok (Russia), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)

Transportation - note:
Inside Passage offers protected waters from southeast Alaska to
Puget Sound (Washington state)

Transnational Issues Pacific Ocean

Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Pakistan

Introduction Pakistan

Background:
The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of
Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India
was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan have
fought two wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir
territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which
India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in
Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate
nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing,
Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. The dispute over the state
of Kashmir is ongoing, but recent discussions and
confidence-building measures may be a start toward lessened tensions.

Geography Pakistan

Location:
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east
and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north

Geographic coordinates:
30 00 N, 70 00 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 803,940 sq km
land: 778,720 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:
total: 6,774 km
border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912
km, Iran 909 km

Coastline:
1,046 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north

Terrain:
flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest;
Balochistan plateau in west

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m

Natural resources:
land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor
quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

Land use: arable land: 27.87% permanent crops: 0.87% other: 71.26% (2001)

Irrigated land:
180,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and
west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)

Environment - current issues:
water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and
agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a
majority of the population does not have access to potable water;
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes
between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

People Pakistan

Population:
159,196,336 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.2% (male 32,919,441; female 31,058,929)
15-64 years: 55.8% (male 45,381,469; female 43,377,613)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 3,123,594; female 3,335,290) (2004
est.)

Median age: total: 19.4 years male: 19.2 years female: 19.5 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.98% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
31.22 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-2.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 74.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 74 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 74.84 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.61 years
male: 61.69 years
female: 63.58 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
4.29 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
78,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,500 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani

Ethnic groups:
Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from
India at the time of partition and their descendants)

Religions:
Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%

Languages:
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu
8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English
(official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government
ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 45.7%
male: 59.8%
female: 30.6% (2003 est.)

Government Pakistan

Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan

Government type:
federal republic

Capital:
Islamabad

Administrative divisions:
4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan,
Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**,
North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and
Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas

Independence:
14 August 1947 (from UK)

National holiday:
Republic Day, 23 March (1956)

Constitution:
10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30
December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored 31 December 2002

Legal system:
based on English common law with provisions to accommodate
Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved
parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims

Executive branch:
note: following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief of
Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee,
General Pervez MUSHARRAF, suspended Pakistan's constitution and
assumed the additional title of Chief Executive; on 12 May 2000,
Pakistan's Supreme Court unanimously validated the October 1999 coup
and granted MUSHARRAF executive and legislative authority for three
years from the coup date; on 20 June 2001, MUSHARRAF named himself
as president and was sworn in, replacing Mohammad Rafiq TARAR; in a
referendum held on 30 April 2002, MUSHARRAF's presidency was
extended by five more years; on 1 January 2004, MUSHARRAF won a vote
of confidence in the Senate, National Assembly, and four provincial
assemblies
chief of state: President General Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 20 June
2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Shaukat AZIZ (since 28 August
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the Prime Minister
election results: AZIZ elected by the National Assembly on 27 August
2004 with 191 of the votes
elections: the president is elected by Parliament for a five-year
term; note - in a referendum held on 30 April 2002, MUSHARRAF's
presidency was extended by five more years (next to be held NA
2007); the prime minister is selected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term (next to be held NA 2007)

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100
seats - formerly 87; members indirectly elected by provincial
assemblies to serve four-year terms; and the National Assembly (342
seats - formerly 217; 60 seats represent women; 10 seats represent
minorities; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: Senate results - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PML/Q 40, PPPP 11, MMA 21, MQM/A 6, PML/N 4, NA 3,
PML/F 1, PkMAP 2, ANP 2, PPP/S 2, JWP 1, BNP-Awami 1, BNP-Mengal 1,
BNM/H 1, independents 4; National Assembly results - percent of
votes by party - NA; seats by party - PML/Q 126, PPPP 81, MMA 63,
PML/N 19, MQM/A 17, NA 16, PML/F 5, PML/J 3, PPP/S 2, BNP 1, JWP 1,
PAT 1, PML/Z 1, PTI 1, MQM/H 1, PkMAP 1, independents 3
elections: Senate - last held 24 and 27 February 2003 (next to be
held by February 2007); National Assembly - last held 10 October
2002 (next to be held by October 2006)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal
Islamic or Shari'a Court

Political parties and leaders:
Awami National Party or ANP [Wali KHAN]; Balochistan National
Movement/Hayee Group or BNM/H [Dr. Hayee BALUCH]; Baluch National
Party-Mengal or BNP/M [Sardar Ataullah MENGAL]; Baluch National
Party/Awami or BNP/Awami [Moheem Khan BALOCH]; Jamhoori Watan Party
or JWP [Akbar Khan BUGTI]; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR];
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F [Fazlur
REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami ul-HAQ faction or JUI/S [Sami
ul-HAQ]; Jamiat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Jamiat
Ulema-i-Pakistan or JUP [Shah Faridul HAQ]]; Millat Party or MP
[Farooq LEGHARI]; Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf faction or MQM/A
[Altaf HUSSAIN]; Muttahida Quami Movement, Haqiqi faction or MQM/H
[Afaq AHMAD]; Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan or MMA [Qazi Hussain
AHMED]; National People's Party or NPP [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI];
Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PkMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI];
Pakhtun Quami Party or PQP [Mohammed Afzal KHAN]; Pakistan Awami
Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan Democratic Party or PDP
[Mehbooba Mufti SAYEED]; Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group or
PML/F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or
PML/N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan Muslim League or PML [Chaudhry
Shujaat HUSSAIN]; note - as of May 2004, the PML/Q changed its name
to PML and absorbed the PML/J, PML/Z, and NA; Pakistan National
Party or PNP [Hasil BIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Aftab
Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians or
PPPP [Benazir BHUTTO]; Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN];
Tehrik-i-Islami [Allama Sajid NAQVI]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently

Political pressure groups and leaders:
military remains most important political force; ulema (clergy),
landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential

International organization participation:
ARF, AsDB, C (reinstated 2004), CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM,
OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI,
UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jehangir KARAMAT
FAX: (202) 686-1534
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and
Boston (Honarary)
telephone: (202) 243-3277
chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan CROCKER
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: (51) 2080-0000
FAX: (51) 2276427
consulate(s): Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar

Flag description:
green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious
minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are
centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are
traditional symbols of Islam

Economy Pakistan

Economy - overview:
Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, has suffered
from decades of internal political disputes, low levels of foreign
investment, and a costly, ongoing confrontation with neighboring
India. However, IMF-approved government policies, bolstered by
generous foreign assistance and renewed access to global markets
since late 2001, have generated solid macroeconomic recovery the
last two years. The government has made substantial inroads in
macroeconomic reform since 2000, although progress on more
politically sensitive reforms has slowed. For example, in the third
and final year of its $1.3 billion IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth
Facility, Islamabad has continued to require waivers for energy
sector reforms. While long-term prospects remain uncertain, given
Pakistan's low level of development, medium-term prospects for job
creation and poverty reduction are the best in nearly a decade.
Islamabad has raised development spending from about 2% of GDP in
the 1990s to 4% in 2003, a necessary step towards reversing the
broad underdevelopment of its social sector. GDP growth is heavily
dependent on rain-fed crops, and last year's end to a four-year
drought should support moderate agricultural growth for the next few
years. Foreign exchange reserves continued to reach new levels in
2003, supported by robust export growth and steady worker
remittances.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $318 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23.3% industry: 23.5% services: 53.2% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
12.9% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
35% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 27.6% (FY96/97)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41 (FY98/99)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
43.98 million
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use
of child labor (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 44%, industry 17%, services 39% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.7% plus substantial underemployment (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $12.08 billion
expenditures: $15.41 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)

Public debt:
72.7% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef,
mutton, eggs

Industries:
textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals,
construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp

Industrial production growth rate:
7.6% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
66.96 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
62.27 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
62,870 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
365,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
297.1 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:
23.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
23.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m NA (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
695.6 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$3.358 billion (2003)

Exports:
$11.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, and yarn), rice,
leather goods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures, carpets and
rugs

Exports - partners:
US 23.1%, UAE 9.4%, UK 7.1%, Germany 5.1%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2003)

Imports:
$12.51 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, plastics, transportation
equipment, edible oils, paper and paperboard, iron and steel, tea

Imports - partners:
UAE 11.2%, Saudi Arabia 10.9%, China 7.3%, Japan 6.6%, Kuwait 6.4%,
US 6%, Malaysia 4.6%, Germany 4.4%, Singapore 4% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$11.67 billion (2003)

Debt - external:
$33.54 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$2.4 billion (FY01/02)

Currency:
Pakistani rupee (PKR)

Currency code:
PKR

Exchange rates:
Pakistani rupees per US dollar - 57.752 (2003), 59.7238 (2002),
61.9272 (2001), 53.6482 (2000), 49.1183 (1999)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Pakistan

Telephones - main lines in use:
3,982,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,624,800 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: the domestic system is mediocre, but improving;
service is adequate for government and business use, in part because
major businesses have established their own private systems; since
1988, the government has promoted investment in the national
telecommunications system on a priority basis, significantly
increasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk and
urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily
available to the majority of the rural population
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable,
cellular, and satellite networks
international: country code - 92; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational
international gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad);
microwave radio relay to neighboring countries (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998)

Radios:
13.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
22 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
3.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.pk

Internet hosts:
15,124 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
30 (2000)

Internet users:
1.5 million (2002)

Transportation Pakistan

Railways:
total: 8,163 km
broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)

Highways:
total: 254,410 km
paved: 109,396 km (including 339 km of expressways)
unpaved: 145,014 km (1999)

Pipelines:
gas 9,945 km; oil 1,821 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim

Merchant marine:
total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 329,486 GRT/512,506 DWT
by type: cargo 11, container 2, petroleum tanker 4
registered in other countries: 16 (2004 est.)

Airports:
129 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 92 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 39 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 9

Heliports: 15 (2003 est.)

Military Pakistan

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force

Military manpower - military age and obligation: 16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age of 18 (2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 39,793,586 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 24,355,985 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1,891,101 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.7 billion (FY02/03)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.9% (FY02/03)

Transnational Issues Pakistan

Disputes - international:
Kashmir remains the world's largest and most highly militarized
territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration
of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad
Kashmir, and Northern Areas), but recent discussions and
confidence-building measures among the parties are beginning to
defuse tensions; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding lands to
China in 1965 boundary agreement; disputes with Pakistan over Indus
River water sharing and the terminus of the Sir Creek Estuary at the
mouth of the Rann of Kutch, which prevents maritime boundary
delimitation; Pakistani maps continue to show Junagadh claim in
India's Gujarat State; despite largely successful UN efforts at
voluntary repatriation, 2-3 million Afghan refugees continue to
reside in Pakistan, many at their own choosing; Pakistan has sent
troops into remote tribal areas to control the border with
Afghanistan to stem organized terrorist and other illegal
cross-border activities; regular meetings with Afghan and coalition
allies aim to resolve periodic claims of boundary encroachments

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 1,064,230 (Afghanistan)
IDPs: undetermined (government strikes on Islamic militants in South
Waziristan) (2004)

Illicit drugs:
opium poppy in Federally Administered Tribal Areas, North-West
Frontier Province, and Balochistan Province has rebounded since it
was nearly eliminated in 2001; key transit point for Afghan drugs,
including heroin, opium, morphine, and hashish, bound for Western
markets, the Gulf States, and Africa; financial crimes related to
drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain
problems

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Palau

Introduction Palau

Background:
After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the
Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the
Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the
Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with
the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It entered
into force the following year, when the islands gained independence.

Geography Palau

Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of
the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:
7 30 N, 134 30 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 458 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 458 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
1,519 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
extended fishing zone: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:
Tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

Terrain:
varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of
Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier
reefs

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Natural resources:
forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed
minerals

Land use:
arable land: 8.7%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 86.95% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues:
inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the
marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing
practices, and overfishing

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six
island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II
battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands

People Palau

Population:
20,016 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.6% (male 2,746; female 2,578)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 7,456; female 6,319)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 437; female 480) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 31.1 years
male: 32.1 years
female: 30 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.46% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
18.69 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
6.89 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
2.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 17.07 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.82 years
male: 66.67 years
female: 73.15 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.46 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: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan

Ethnic groups:
Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70%,
Asian (mainly Filipinos, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and
Vietnamese) 28%, white 2% (2000 est.)

Religions:
Christian (Roman Catholics 49%, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's
Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and
Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population
observes this religion, which is indigenous to Palau)

Languages:
English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral
(Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are
official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)

Government Palau

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local short form: Belau
former: Palau District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
local long form: Beluu er a Belau

Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

Capital:
Koror; note - a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of
Koror

Administrative divisions:
16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror,
Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar,
Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol

Independence:
1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National holiday:
Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Constitution:
1 January 1981

Legal system:
based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal,
common, and customary laws

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19
January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19
January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 2 November
2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. reelected president;
percent of vote - Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. 64%, Polycarp BASILIUS
33%; Elias Camsek CHIN elected vice president; percent of vote -
Elias Camsek CHIN 70%, Sandra PIERANTOZZI 29%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the
Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population
basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held
November 2008); House of Delegates - last held 2 November 2004 (next
to be held November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA%; seats -
independents 9 (four new members elected); House of Delegates -
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 16 (one new member
elected)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC,
MIGA, OPCW, PIF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands) FAX: (202) 452-6281 telephone: (202) 452-6814 chancery: 1800 K Street NW, Suite 714, Washington, DC 20006

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Francis J. RICCIARDONE, US ambassador to the Philippines is accredited to Palau embassy: Koror (no street address) mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 telephone: 488-2920, 2990 FAX: 488-2911

Flag description:
light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted
slightly to the hoist side

Economy Palau

Economy - overview:
The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture
and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force,
relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. Business and
tourist arrivals numbered 50,000 in FY00/01. The population enjoys a
per capita income twice that of the Philippines and much of
Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have been
greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the
rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the
willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $174 million
note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2000 est.)

Labor force:
9,845 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 20%, industry NA, services NA (1990)

Unemployment rate:
2.3% (2000 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $57.7 million
expenditures: $80.8 million, including capital expenditures of $17.1
million (FY98/99 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Industries:
tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction,
garment making

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Exports:
$18 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities:
shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

Exports - partners:
US, Japan, Singapore (2000)

Imports:
$99 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
US, Guam, Japan, Singapore, Korea (2000)

Debt - external:
$0 (FY99/00)

Economic aid - recipient:
$155.8 million ; note - the Compact of Free Association with the
US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October
1994, provides Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years
in return for furnishing military facilities

Currency:
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Palau

Telephones - main lines in use:
6,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,000 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios:
12,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (cable) (2005)

Televisions:
11,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.pw

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)

Transportation Palau

Highways: total: 61 km paved: 36 km unpaved: 25 km

Ports and harbors:
Koror

Merchant marine:
none

Airports:
3 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military Palau

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free
Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted
access to the islands for 50 years

Transnational Issues Palau

Disputes - international: border delineation disputes being negotiated with Philippines, Indonesia

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Palmyra Atoll

Introduction Palmyra Atoll

Background:
The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US
included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the
archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not
include Palmyra Atoll, which is now privately owned by the Nature
Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature
preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical
mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and
Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in
January 2001.

Geography Palmyra Atoll

Location:
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and American Samoa

Geographic coordinates:
5 52 N, 162 06 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 11.9 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 11.9 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
14.5 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
equatorial, hot, and very rainy

Terrain:
very low

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2 m

Natural resources: terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (forests and woodlands) (2001)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and
balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall

People Palmyra Atoll

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants; 4 to 20 Nature Conservancy staff, US
Fish and Wildlife staff (July 2004 est.)

Government Palmyra Atoll

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll

Dependency status:
incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered
from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US
Department of the Interior; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US
Department of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded
areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm
territorial sea or within the lagoon

Legal system:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:
the flag of the US is used

Economy Palmyra Atoll

Economy - overview: no economic activity

Transportation Palmyra Atoll

Highways:
most of the roads and many causeways built during World War II are
unserviceable and overgrown (2001)

Ports and harbors:
West Lagoon

Airports:
1 (2003 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Palmyra Atoll

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Palmyra Atoll

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Panama

Introduction Panama

Background:
With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly
signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal
and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the
structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the
US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. On 7 September
1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal
from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the
Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over
in the intervening years. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was
deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the
Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to Panama by
or on 31 December 1999.

Geography Panama

Location:
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Geographic coordinates:
9 00 N, 80 00 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 78,200 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries: total: 555 km border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Coastline: 2,490 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May
to January), short dry season (January to May)

Terrain:
interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland
plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

Natural resources:
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Land use: arable land: 7.36% permanent crops: 1.98% other: 90.66% (2001)

Irrigated land:
320 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Environment - current issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources

Environment - international agreements: party to: 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge
connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links
North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean

People Panama

Population:
3,000,463 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 461,427; female 443,932)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 967,490; female 940,344)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 88,611; female 98,659) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 25.9 years
male: 25.6 years
female: 26.2 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.31% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
20.36 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
6.39 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-0.91 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 23.08 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.14 years
male: 69.82 years
female: 74.56 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.49 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian

Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed
(West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Languages:
Spanish (official), English 14%
note: many Panamanians bilingual

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 93.2%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

Government Panama

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama

Government type:
constitutional democracy

Capital:
Panama

Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory*
(comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera,
Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, and Veraguas

Independence:
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28
November 1821)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Constitution:
11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004

Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in
the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September
2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September
2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1
September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1
September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1
September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since
1 September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 2 May 2004
(next to be held 3 May 2009); note - beginning in 2009, Panama will
have only one vice president.
note: government coalition - PRD (Democratic Revolutionary Party),
PP (Popular Party)
election results: Martin TORRIJOS Espino elected president; percent
of vote - Martin TORRIJOS Espino 47.5%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany
30.6%, Jose Miguel ALEMAN 17%, Ricardo MARTINELLI 4.9%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (formerly called Legislative Assembly)
or Asamblea Nacional (78 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms; note - In 2009, the number of seats will
change to 71)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
PRD 40, PA 17, PS 8, MOLIRENA 3, Democratic Change 2, PP 2, PLN 1,
other 5
note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a
plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and
cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based
formula
elections: last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges
appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three courts of
appeal

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic
Revolutionary Party or PRD [Martin TORRIJOS]; National Liberal Party
or PLN [Anibal GALINDO]; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or
MOLIRENA [Jesus ROSAS]; Panamenista Party or PA (formerly the
Arnulfista Party) [Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez]; Popular Party or
PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) [Ruben AROSEMENA];
Solidarity Party or PS [Jose Raul MULINO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Council of
Organized Workers or CONATO; National Union of Construction and
Similar Workers (SUNTRACS); National Council of Private Enterprise
or CONEP; Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE;
Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of
the Republic of Panama or CTRP

International organization participation:
FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Federico HUMBERT Arias
FAX: (202) 483-8416
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa
telephone: (202) 483-1407
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Linda Ellen WATT
embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado Postal 0816-02561,
Zona 5, Panama City 5
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone: 207-7000
FAX: 227-1964

Flag description:
divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white
(hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain
red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with
a red five-pointed star in the center

Economy Panama

Economy - overview:
Panama's dollarised economy rests primarily on a well-developed
services sector that accounts for three-fourths of GDP. Services
include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone,
insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump
in Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown,
and the withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth
in 2000-03. The government has been backing public works programs,
tax reforms, new regional trade agreements, and development of
tourism in order to stimulate growth. Unemployment remains at an
unacceptably high level.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $18.78 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.3% industry: 14.7% services: 77.1% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
24.8% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
37% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 35.7% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.5 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
1.19 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled
labor (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 20.8%, industry 18%, services 61.2% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate:
13.8% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.995 billion
expenditures: $3.421 billion, including capital expenditures of $471
million (2003 est.)

Public debt:
73.3% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock;
shrimp

Industries:
construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other
construction materials, sugar milling

Industrial production growth rate:
7% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
4.039 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
3.681 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
118 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
43 million kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
52,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Current account balance:
$-408 million (2003)

Exports:
$5.237 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing (1999)

Exports - partners:
US 13.9%, Nigeria 9.8%, Germany 8.1%, South Korea 7.8%, Peru 5.1%,
Costa Rica 4.9%, Belgium 4.8%, Japan 4.5% (2003)

Imports:
$6.622 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital goods, crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
(1999)

Imports - partners:
Japan 33.2%, US 11.4%, China 9.1%, South Korea 7.7%, Singapore 7.1%
(2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$1.011 billion (2003)

Debt - external:
$8.834 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$197.1 million (1995)

Currency:
balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
PAB; USD

Exchange rates:
balboas per US dollar - 1 (2003), 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000), 1
(1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Panama

Telephones - main lines in use:
386,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
834,000 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic and international facilities well
developed
domestic: NA
international: country code - 507; 1 coaxial submarine cable;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to
the Central American Microwave System

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
815,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
38 (including repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:
510,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.pa

Internet hosts:
7,129 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)

Internet users:
120,000 (2002)

Transportation Panama

Railways:
total: 355 km
standard gauge: 76 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge (2003)

Highways:
total: 11,400 km
paved: 3,944 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,456 km (1999)

Waterways:
800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part of Colon area),
Vacamonte

Merchant marine:
total: 4,833 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 122,960,929 GRT/183,615,337
DWT
registered in other countries: 85 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Albania 2, Angola 1, Antigua and Barbuda 2, Argentina
7, Australia 11, Austria 1, Bahamas 3, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 5,
Belize 4, Brazil 4, British Virgin Islands 8, Cambodia 2, Canada 6,
Cayman Islands 1, Chile 13, China 286, Colombia 14, Croatia 3, Cuba
17, Cyprus 6, Denmark 4, Dominican Republic 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 16,
Equatorial Guinea 1, France 7, Germany 89, Greece 549, Haiti 1,
Honduras 2, Hong Kong 288, India 22, Indonesia 44, Iran 1, Ireland
2, Israel 4, Italy 7, Japan 1630, Jordan 8, Kenya 1, South Korea
349, Kuwait 1, Latvia 11, Liberia 3, Lithuania 2, Luxembourg 1,
Malaysia 12, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 3, Mexico 7, Monaco 29,
Netherlands 14, Netherlands Antilles 1, New Zealand 1, Nigeria 6,
Norway 86, Oman 1, Pakistan 1, Peru 17, Philippines 41, Poland 12,
Portugal 6, Puerto Rico 3, Romania 9, Russia 8, Saint Kitts and
Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Saudi Arabia 6,
Singapore 105, South Africa 3, Spain 52, Sri Lanka 3, Sudan 1,
Sweden 4, Switzerland 93, Syria 1, Taiwan 348, Thailand 14, Trinidad
and Tobago 1, Turkey 12, Ukraine 2, United Kingdom 51, United States
99, Venezuela 4
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 1,434, cargo 819, chemical tanker
388, combination bulk 73, combination ore/oil 18, container 613,
liquefied gas 190, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large load
carrier 15, passenger 36, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 514,
rail car carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 281, roll on/roll off 125,
short-sea/passenger 37, specialized tanker 36, vehicle carrier 242

Airports:
103 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 44 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 22 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 61 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 49 (2004 est.)

Military Panama

Military branches:
an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, but
there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes
the Panamanian National Police, National Maritime Service, and
National Air Service)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 810,341 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 553,422 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$145 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.2% (2003)

Military - note:
on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA
abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by
creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's
Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting
the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the
temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of
"external aggression"

Transnational Issues Panama

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering
center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is
especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center;
negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial
transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major
problem

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

@Papua New Guinea

Introduction Papua New Guinea

Background:
The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in
the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south)
in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which
occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to
administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A
nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in
1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.

Geography Papua New Guinea

Location:
Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island
of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean,
east of Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 147 00 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California

Land boundaries: total: 820 km border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Coastline: 5,152 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:
tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon
(May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries

Land use: arable land: 0.46% permanent crops: 1.44% other: 98.1% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the
country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud
slides; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:
rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing
commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining
projects; severe drought

Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest
swamps along southwest coast

People Papua New Guinea

Population:
5,420,280 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.3% (male 1,053,940; female 1,019,492)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,622,124; female 1,519,104)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 96,638; female 108,982) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 21 years
male: 21.1 years
female: 20.8 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.3% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
30.52 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
7.5 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: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 53.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 57.39 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.56 years
male: 62.41 years
female: 66.81 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
4.04 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria
overall degree of risk: very high (2004)

Nationality:
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean

Ethnic groups:
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Religions:
Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London
Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%, indigenous beliefs
34%

Languages:
Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by
1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 715 indigenous languages — many unrelated

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.6%
male: 71.1%
female: 57.7% (2002)

Government Papua New Guinea

Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea

Government type:
constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Port Moresby

Administrative divisions:
20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands,
East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay,
Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern
Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain

Independence:
16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Constitution:
16 September 1975

Legal system:
based on English common law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by governor general Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29 June
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2
August 2002); deputy prime minister (vacant)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor
general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the National Executive Council; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the
governor general

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House
of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from
provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 15-29 June 2002 and April and May 2003;
completed in May 2003 (voting in the Southern Highlands was not
completed during the June 2002 election period); next to be held not
later than June 2007
election results: percent of vote by party - National Alliance 18%,
URP 13%, PDM 12%, PPP 8%, Pangu 6%, PAP 5%, PLP 4%, others 34%;
seats by party - National Alliance 19, UPR 14, PDM 13, PPP 8, Pangu
6, PAP 5, PLP 4, others 40; note - association with political
parties is fluid (2003)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor
general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after
consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges
are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party [Dr.Banare BUN, party leader];
Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL, party leader];
National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE, party leader; George
MANOA, party president]; National Party [Melchior PEP, party
leader]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Chris HAIVETA,
party leader]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA, party
leader]; Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA, party leader];
Papua New Guinea Party [Sir Mekere MORAUTA, party leader]; People's
Action Party or PAP [Moses MALADINA, party leader]; People's Labor
Party or PLP [Ekis ROPENU, party leader]; People's National Congress
or PNC [Peter O'NEILL, party leader]; People's Progressive Party or
PPP [Andrew BAING, party leader]; Pipol First Party [Luther WENGE,
party leader]; Rural People's Party [Peter NAMUS, party leader];
United Party [Bire KIMASOPA, party leader]; United Resources Party
or URP [Tim NEVILLE, party leader] (2004)

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI
FAX: (202) 745-3679
telephone: (202) 745-3680
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC
20036

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. FITTS embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240 telephone: 321-1455 FAX: 321-3423

Flag description:
divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle
is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower
triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the
Southern Cross constellation centered

Economy Papua New Guinea