← The 2006 CIA World Factbook, Volume 2
Gwp (part 10)
Legal system:
mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial
review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa (since
1 December 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa
(since 1 December 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note - appointment of
attorney general requires consent of the Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single six-year
term; election last held 2 July 2006 (next to be held 1 July 2012)
election results: Felipe CALDERON elected president; percent of vote
- Felipe CALDERON (PAN) 35.89%, Andres Manuel Lopez OBRADOR (PRD)
35.31%, Roberto MADRAZO (PRI) 22.26%, other 6.54%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of the
Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; 96 are elected by popular
vote to serve six-year terms, and 32 are allocated on the basis of
each party's popular vote) and the Federal Chamber of Deputies or
Camara Federal de Diputados (500 seats; 300 members are directly
elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; remaining 200
members are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote,
also for three-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 July 2006 for all of the seats (next
to be held 1 July 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held 2 July 2006
(next to be held 5 July 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - PAN 52, PRI 33, PRD 29, PVEM 6, CD 5, PT 2, PNA 1; Chamber
of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PAN
206, PRD 127, PRI 103, PVEM 18, CD 17, PT 16, other 13; note -
election results pending certification
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia Nacional
(justices or ministros are appointed by the president with consent
of the Senate)
Political parties and leaders:
Convergence for Democracy or CD [Dante DELGADO Ranauro];
Institutional Revolutionary Party (Institutional Revolutionary
Party) or PRI [leader NA]; Mexican Green Ecological Party or PVEM
[Jorge Emilio GONZALEZ Martinez]; National Action Party (Partido
Accion Nacional) or PAN [Manuel ESPINO Barrientos]; New Alliance
Party (Partido Nueva Alianza) or PNA [Miguel Angel JIMENEZ Godines];
Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolucion
Democratica) or PRD [Leonel COTA Montano]; Workers Party or PT
[Alberto ANAYA Gutierrez]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic or COPARMEX;
Confederation of Industrial Chambers or CONCAMIN; Confederation of
Mexican Workers or CTM; Confederation of National Chambers of
Commerce or CONCANACO; Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business
Organizations or COECE; Federation of Unions Providing Goods and
Services or FESEBES; National Chamber of Transformation Industries
or CANACINTRA; National Peasant Confederation or CNC; National Union
of Workers or UNT; Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers or
CROM; Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants or CROC;
Roman Catholic Church
International organization participation:
APEC, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), CDB, CE (observer), CSN
(observer), EBRD, FAO, G-3, G-6, G-15, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAFTA, NAM
(observer), NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOVIC, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto DE ICAZA Gonzalez
chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: (202) 728-1600
FAX: (202) 728-1698
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas,
Denver, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
Nogales (Arizona), Omaha, Orlando, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio,
San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico
(California), Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle
Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Indianapolis (Indiana), Kansas
City (Missouri), Laredo (Texas), Las Vegas, McAllen (Texas), Midland
(Texas), Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon),
Presidio (Texas), Raleigh, Saint Paul (Minnesota), Salt Lake City,
San Bernardino, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson, Yuma
(Arizona)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio O. GARZA, Jr.
embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
Distrito Federal
mailing address: P. O. Box 9000, Brownsville, TX 78520-9000
telephone: (55) 5080-2000
FAX: (55) 5511-9980
consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana
consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red;
the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its
beak) is centered in the white band
Economy Mexico
Economy - overview:
Mexico has a free market economy that recently entered the trillion
dollar class. It contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry
and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector.
Recent administrations have expanded competition in seaports,
railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas
distribution, and airports. Per capita income is one-fourth that of
the US; income distribution remains highly unequal. Trade with the
US and Canada has tripled since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994.
Mexico has 12 free trade agreements with over 40 countries
including, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the European Free Trade
Area, and Japan, putting more than 90% of trade under free trade
agreements. The FOX administration is cognizant of the need to
upgrade infrastructure, modernize the tax system and labor laws, and
allow private investment in the energy sector, but has been unable
to win the support of the opposition-led Congress. The next
government that takes office in December 2006 will confront the same
challenges of boosting economic growth, improving Mexico's
international competitiveness, and reducing poverty.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.064 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$693 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.8% industry: 25.9% services: 70.2% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 43.4 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 18% industry: 24% services: 58% (2003)
Unemployment rate:
3.6% plus underemployment of perhaps 25% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 35.6% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
54.6 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $181 billion
expenditures: $184 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005)
Public debt:
17.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit,
tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products
Industries:
food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum,
mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables,
tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
1.9% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
209.2 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 78.7% hydro: 14.2% nuclear: 4.2% other: 2.9% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
193.9 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
1.07 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
390.2 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
3.42 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.752 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
1.863 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
205,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
33.31 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
47.3 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
55.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
7.85 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
424.3 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$-5.708 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$213.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits,
vegetables, coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:
US 85.7%, Canada 2%, Spain 1.4% (2005)
Imports:
$223.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery,
electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor
vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts
Imports - partners:
US 53.4%, China 8%, Japan 5.9% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$74.1 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$137.2 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$1.166 billion (1995)
Currency (code):
Mexican peso (MXN)
Currency code:
MXN
Exchange rates:
Mexican pesos per US dollar - 10.898 (2005), 11.286 (2004), 10.789
(2003), 9.656 (2002), 9.342 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mexico
Telephones - main lines in use:
19.512 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
47.462 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: low telephone density with about 18 main lines
per 100 persons; privatized in December 1990; the opening to
competition in January 1997 improved prospects for development, but
Telmex remains dominant
domestic: adequate telephone service for business and government,
but the population is poorly served; mobile subscribers far
outnumber fixed-line subscribers; domestic satellite system with 120
earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network;
considerable use of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable
international: country code - 52; satellite earth stations - 32
Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad (giving Mexico improved access to South
America, Central America, and much of the US as well as enhancing
domestic communications), 1 Panamsat, numerous Inmarsat mobile earth
stations; linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk
connections; high capacity Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarine cable
with access to the US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Morocco,
Spain, and Italy (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 850, FM 545, shortwave 15 (2003)
Radios:
31 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
236 (plus repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
25.6 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.mx
Internet hosts:
3,426,680 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
51 (2000)
Internet users:
18,622,500 (2005)
Transportation Mexico
Airports: 1,839 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 228
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 82
914 to 1,523 m: 77
under 914 m: 29 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,611
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 68
914 to 1,523 m: 460
under 914 m: 1,081 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 22,705 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,875 km; oil 8,688 km;
oil/gas/water 228 km; refined products 6,520 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 17,562 km
standard gauge: 17,562 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 349,038 km
paved: 116,928 km (including 6,979 km of expressways)
unpaved: 232,110 km (2003)
Waterways:
2,900 km (navigable rivers and coastal canals) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 56 ships (1000 GRT or over) 751,607 GRT/1,129,234 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 6, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas
4, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 25, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 5 (Denmark 2, France 1, Norway 1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 15 (Belize 1, Honduras 1, Liberia 1,
Panama 5, Portugal 1, Spain 3, Venezuela 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Altamira, Manzanillo, Morro Redondo, Salina Cruz, Tampico,
Topolobampo, Veracruz
Military Mexico
Military branches:
Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa Nacional,
Sedena): Army (Ejercito), Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Mexicana,
FAM); Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaria de Marina, Semar): Mexican
Navy (Armada de Mexico, ARM, includes Naval Air Force (FAN) and
Marines) (2006)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary enlistment (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 24,488,008
females age 18-49: 26,128,046 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 19,058,337
females age 18-49: 21,966,796 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 1,063,233
females age 18-49: 1,043,816 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$6.07 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.8% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Mexico
Disputes - international:
prolonged drought, population growth, and outmoded practices and
infrastructure in the border region have strained water-sharing
arrangements with the US; the US has stepped up efforts to stem
nationals from Mexico, Central America, and other parts of the world
from illegally crossing the border with Mexico
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 12,000 (government's quashing of Zapatista uprising in 1994
in eastern Chiapas Region) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Mexico is a source, transit, and destination
country for persons trafficked for sexual exploitation and labor;
while the vast majority of victims are Central Americans trafficked
along Mexico's southern border, other source regions include South
America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia; women and
children are trafficked from rural regions to urban centers and
tourist areas for sexual exploitation, often through fraudulent
offers of employment or through threats of physical violence; the
Mexican trafficking problem is often conflated with alien smuggling,
and frequently the same criminal networks are involved; pervasive
corruption among state and local law enforcement often impedes
investigations
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Mexico remains on the Tier 2 Watch
List for the third consecutive year based on future commitments to
undertake additional efforts in prosecution, protection, and
prevention of trafficking in persons, and the failure of the
government to provide critical law enforcement data
Illicit drugs:
major drug-producing nation; cultivation of opium poppy in 2004
amounted to 3,500 hectares, but opium cultivation stayed within the
range - between 3,500 and 5,500 hectares - observed in nine of the
last 12 years; potential production of 9 metric tons of pure heroin,
or 23 metric tons of "black tar" heroin, the dominant form of
Mexican heroin in the western United States; marijuana cultivation
decreased 23% to 5,800 hectares in 2004 after decade-high
cultivation peak in 2003; potential production of 10,400 metric tons
of marijuana in 2004; government conducts the largest independent
illicit-crop eradication program in the world; major supplier of
heroin and largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine
to the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country for
US-bound cocaine from South America, accounting for about 90% of
estimated annual cocaine movement to the US; major drug syndicates
control majority of drug trafficking throughout the country;
producer and distributor of ecstasy; significant money-laundering
center
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Micronesia, Federated States of
Introduction Micronesia, Federated States of
Background:
In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory
under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986
independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with
the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns
include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on
US aid.
Geography Micronesia, Federated States of
Location:
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 702 sq km
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands,
and Kosrae (Kosaie)
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
6,112 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern
islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with
occasionally severe damage
Terrain:
islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low,
coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
Natural resources:
forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Land use:
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues:
overfishing, climate change, pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
four major island groups totaling 607 islands
People Micronesia, Federated States of
Population:
108,004 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.6% (male 20,116/female 19,391)
15-64 years: 60.4% (male 32,620/female 32,659)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,413/female 1,805) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.9 years
male: 20.5 years
female: 21.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.11% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
24.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
4.75 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-21.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA
Infant mortality rate:
total: 29.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.05 years
male: 68.24 years
female: 71.95 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.16 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality: noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Ethnic groups:
nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions:
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other 3%
Languages:
English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese,
Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
Government Micronesia, Federated States of
Country name:
conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Federated States of Micronesia
local short form: none
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and
Yap Districts
abbreviation: FSM
Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and
the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004
Capital:
name: Palikir
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 08 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
Independence:
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Constitution:
10 May 1979
Legal system:
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003);
Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May
2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the
eight executive departments
elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from
among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for
a second term); election last held 11 May 2003 (next to be held May
2007); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish
popular elections for president and vice president failed
election results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent of
Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent
of Congress vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Congress (14 seats; 4 - one elected from each state to
serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts
delineated by population to serve two-year terms; members elected by
popular vote)
elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003
(next to be held March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last
held 8 March 2005 (next to be held March 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
no formal parties
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC,
ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: (202) 223-4383
FAX: (202) 223-4391
consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Suzanne K. HALE
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941
telephone: 320-2187
FAX: 320-2186
Flag description:
light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars
are arranged in a diamond pattern
Economy Micronesia, Federated States of
Economy - overview:
Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and
fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting,
except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist
industry exists, but the remote location, a lack of adequate
facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. The
Amended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual
aid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and
the FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payouts
to the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term
economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US
assistance but also to the slow growth of the private sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $277 million; note - supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$232 million
GDP - real growth rate:
0.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 28.9% industry: 15.2% services: 55.9% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
37,410
Labor force - by occupation:
note: 0.9% two-thirds are government employees, 34.4%, 64.7%
Unemployment rate:
22% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
26.7%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2005)
Budget:
revenues: $127.3 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $144.2 million; including capital expenditures of
$17.9 million $NA (1998 est.)
Agriculture - products:
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava
(tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish
Industries:
tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture;
craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
192 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source:
NA
Electricity - consumption:
178.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Current account balance:
$-34.3 million
Exports:
$14 million (f.o.b.) (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports - partners:
Japan, US, Guam (2004)
Imports:
$132.7 million f.o.b. (2004)
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners:
US, Japan, Hong Kong (2004)
Debt - external:
$60.8 million (FY05 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$86.3 million under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the
US pledged $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001;
the level of aid has been subsequently reduced
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications Micronesia, Federated States of
Telephones - main lines in use:
12,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
14,100 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used
mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground
stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service
available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
9,400 (1996)
Television broadcast stations:
3; note - cable TV also available (2004)
Televisions:
2,800 (1999)
Internet country code:
.fm
Internet hosts:
550 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
14,000 (2005)
Transportation Micronesia, Federated States of
Airports:
6 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (1999)
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,423 GRT/1,551 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Tomil Harbor
Military Micronesia, Federated States of
Military branches:
no ministry of defense and no standing armed forces; the
paramilitary Maritime Wing, a small maritime law enforcement unit,
is responsible to the Division of Maritime Surveillance within the
Office of the Attorney General (2003)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 23,816 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 18,914 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 1,305 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Micronesia, Federated States of
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Moldova
Introduction Moldova
Background:
Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet
Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the
USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory
east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority
population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a
"Transnistria" republic. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova
became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its
president in 2001.
Geography Moldova
Location:
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 33,843 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km
water: 472 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 1,389 km border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain:
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dniester River 2 m highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
Land use: arable land: 54.52% permanent crops: 8.81% other: 36.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
3,000 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
landslides (57 cases in 1998)
Environment - current issues:
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides
such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil
erosion from poor farming methods
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and
minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
People Moldova
Population:
4,466,706 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 455,673/female 438,934)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 1,498,078/female 1,613,489)
65 years and over: 10.3% (male 170,456/female 290,076) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.3 years
male: 30.3 years
female: 34.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.28% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
15.7 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
12.64 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 38.38 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 41.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.65 years
male: 61.61 years
female: 69.88 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.85 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups:
Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%,
Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
Languages:
Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language),
Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.6%
female: 98.7% (2003 est.)
Government Moldova
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: Moldova
former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic; Moldovan Soviet
Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Chisinau (Kishinev)
geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 50 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities
(municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala
autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir,
Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari,
Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova,
Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti,
Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia
territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului
Independence:
27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Constitution:
new constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994;
replaced old Soviet constitution of 1979
Legal system:
based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of
legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; accepts
many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) documents
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April
2001), First Deputy Prime Minister Zinaida GRECIANII (since 10
October 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April 2005 (next
to be held in 2009); note - prime minister designated by the
president, upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from
designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of
confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and
entire cabinet; prime minister designated 15 April 2001, cabinet
received a vote of confidence 19 April 2001
election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president;
parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; Vasile
TARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence
- 75 of 101
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and
electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, Democratic
Moldova Bloc 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other parties 16.4%; seats by party -
PCRM 56, Democratic Moldova Bloc 34, PPCD 11
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for
constitutional judicature)
Political parties and leaders:
Braghis Faction [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Christian Democratic People's
Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Communist Party of the Republic of
Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; Democratic
Moldova Bloc (comprised of the AMN, Democratic Party, and PSL);
Democratic Party [Dumitru DIACOV]; Our Moldova Alliance or AMN
[Serafim URECHEANU]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Oleg SEREBRIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIF, OPCW,
OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae CHIRTOACA chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 667-1130 FAX: (202) 667-1204
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambasador Michael D. KIRBY embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (22) 40-8300 FAX: (22) 23-3044
Flag description:
same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue
(hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a
Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons
carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its
right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast
is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox
head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow
Economy Moldova
Economy - overview:
Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite
recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable
climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a
result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring
fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import almost
all of its energy supplies. Energy shortages contributed to sharp
production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in
December 1991. As part of an ambitious reform effort after
independence, Moldova introduced a convertible currency, freed
prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises,
backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed
interest rates. The government entered into agreements with the
World Bank and the IMF to promote growth and reduce poverty. The
economy returned to positive growth in 2000, and has remained at or
above 6% every year since. Further reforms will come slowly because
of strong political forces backing government controls. The economy
remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather,
and the skepticism of foreign investors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.41 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.416 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21.3% industry: 23.3% services: 55.5% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 1.34 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40% industry: 14% services: 46% (1998)
Unemployment rate:
8%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad
(2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
80% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 30.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.2 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.9% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.069 billion
expenditures: $1.065 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
79.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed,
tobacco; beef, milk
Industries:
sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery;
foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines;
hosiery, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
17% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.942 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.6% hydro: 9.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
3.036 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
300 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
600 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
37,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.38 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:
$-285 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$1.04 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
Exports - partners:
Russia 32.9%, Italy 12.7%, Romania 10.6%, Ukraine 9.5%, Belarus
6.7%, Germany 4.5% (2005)
Imports:
$2.23 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
textiles (2000)
Imports - partners:
Ukraine 20.9%, Russia 11.7%, Romania 11.2%, Germany 8.3%, Italy
6.6%, Turkey 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$597.5 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.986 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$100 million (2000)
Currency (code):
Moldovan leu (MDL)
Currency code:
MDL
Exchange rates:
lei per US dollar - 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003),
13.571 (2002), 12.865 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Moldova
Telephones - main lines in use:
929,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.09 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside
Chisinau; some modernization is under way
domestic: new subscribers face long wait for service; mobile
cellular telephone service being introduced
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and
Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat,
and Intersputnik
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:
3.22 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
1.26 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.md
Internet hosts:
58,886 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (1999)
Internet users:
406,000 (2005)
Transportation Moldova
Airports: 12 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 606 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 1,138 km
broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 12,730 km
paved: 10,973 km
unpaved: 1,757 km (2003)
Waterways:
424 km (on Dniester River) (2005)
Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,831 GRT/15,003 DWT by type: cargo 7 foreign-owned: 3 (Ukraine 3) (2006)
Military Moldova
Military branches:
National Army: Ground Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; national service
obligation - 12 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,066,459
females age 18-49: 1,117,070 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 693,913
females age 18-49: 911,568 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 43,729
females age 18-49: 42,354 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$8.7 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Moldova
Disputes - international:
Moldova and Ukraine have established joint customs posts to monitor
transit through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region which
remains under OSCE supervision
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 1,000 (internal secessionist uprising in Transnistrian region
in 1991) (2005)
Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS
consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest
Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the
US; widespread crime and underground economic activity
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Monaco
Introduction Monaco
Background:
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in
1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late
13th century, and a principality was established in 1338. Economic
development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad
linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the
principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling
facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation
center.
Geography Monaco
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern
coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates:
43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 1.95 sq km
land: 1.95 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 4.4 km border countries: France 4.4 km
Coastline:
4.1 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:
hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See);
almost entirely urban
People Monaco
Population:
32,543 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 2,539/female 2,417)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,959/female 10,266)
65 years and over: 22.6% (male 3,015/female 4,347) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 45.4 years
male: 43.3 years
female: 47.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.4% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
9.19 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
12.91 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
7.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.69 years
male: 75.85 years
female: 83.74 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups:
French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%
Languages:
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Monaco
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Monaco
geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined
by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers,
singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville,
Monte-Carlo
Independence:
1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)
National holiday:
National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November
Constitution:
17 December 1962
Legal system:
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June
2005)
cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state
appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national
candidates presented by the French Government
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16
members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional
representation; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
UNAM 21, UND 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch
on the basis of nominations by the National Council)
Political parties and leaders:
National and Democratic Union or UND [Guy MAGNAN]; Union for Monaco
or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Monaco does not have an embassy in the US
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in
Marseille (France) under the authority of the US ambassador to
France is accredited to Monaco
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the
flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is
white (top) and red
Economy Monaco
Economy - overview:
Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular
resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. In
2001, a major construction project extended the pier used by cruise
ships in the main harbor. The principality has successfully sought
to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting
industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and
thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established
residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and
offices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors,
including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service.
Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous
French metropolitan areas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$870 million
note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates
are extremely rough (2000 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
0.9% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$27,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force: 41,110 note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2004)
Unemployment rate:
22% (1999)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2000)
Budget:
revenues: $719.2 million
expenditures: $864.1 million; including capital expenditures of
$283.1 million (2004)
Agriculture - products:
none
Industries:
tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:
$656.5 million $NA
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France
Imports:
$636.6 million $NA
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France
Debt - external:
$18 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),
1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Monaco
Telephones - main lines in use:
33,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
19,300 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations;
connected by cable into the French communications system
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)
Radios:
34,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1998)
Televisions:
25,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.mc
Internet hosts:
12,720 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
16,000 (2002)
Transportation Monaco
Heliports: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 50 km paved: 50 km (1999)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 77 (Bahamas 17, Barbados 1, Bermuda
2, France 1, Georgia 13, Isle of Man 3, Liberia 10, Malta 1,
Marshall Islands 8, Norway 4, Panama 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Switzerland 2, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Monaco
Military Monaco
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,256 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 4,971 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 148 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France; the Palace Guard performs
ceremonial duties (2003)
Transnational Issues Monaco
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Mongolia
Introduction Mongolia
Background:
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis
KHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. After his death the
empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these
broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to
their original steppe homelands and later came under Chinese rule.
Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A
Communist regime was installed in 1924. The ex-Communist Mongolian
People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992,
but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996
parliamentary election. Since then, parliamentary elections returned
the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000 and produced a coalition
government in 2004.
Geography Mongolia
Location:
Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 1,564,116 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 8,220 km border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain:
vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west
and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
Natural resources:
oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel,
zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Land use: arable land: 0.76% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:
840 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," which
is harsh winter conditions
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies
of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and
industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the
burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of
environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar;
deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to
agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain;
desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on
the environment
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
People Mongolia
Population:
2,832,224 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.9% (male 402,448/female 387,059)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 967,546/female 969,389)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 45,859/female 59,923) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.6 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 25 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.46% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
21.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.95 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 52.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.89 years
male: 62.64 years
female: 67.25 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 500 (2003 est)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian
Ethnic groups:
Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other
(including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)
Religions:
Buddhist Lamaist 50%, none 40%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim
4% (2004)
Languages:
Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2002)
Government Mongolia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia
Government type:
mixed parliamentary/presidential
Capital:
name: Ulaanbaatar
geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 53 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Saturday in March; ends last
Saturday in September
Administrative divisions:
21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality*
(singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan,
Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Govi-Altay,
Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay,
Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Independence:
11 July 1921 (from China)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
Constitution:
12 February 1992
Legal system:
blend of Soviet, German, and US systems that combine "continental"
or "civil" code and case-precedent; constitution ambiguous on
judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 24 June 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since 25
January 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Mendsaikhan ENKHSAIKHAN (since
28 January 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation
with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural
(parliament)
elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties
represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22
May 2005 (next to be held in May 2009); following legislative
elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition is usually
elected prime minister by State Great Hural
election results: Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected president; percent of
vote - Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (MPRP) 53.44%, Mendsaikhanin ENKHSAIKHAN
(DP) 20.05%, Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN (MRP) 13.92%, Badarchyn
ERDENEBAT (M-MNSDP) 12.59%; Miegombyn ENKHBOLD elected prime
minister by the State Great Hural 56 to 10
Legislative branch:
unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms
elections: last held 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPRP 48.78%, MDC 44.8%,
independents 3.5%, Republican Party 1.5%, others 1.42%; seats by
party - MPRP 36, MDC 34, others 4; note - following June 2004
election MDC collapsed; as of 1 December 2005 composition of
legislature was MPRP 38, DP 25, M-MNSDP 6, CWRP 2, MRP 1, PP 1,
independents 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincial
courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are
nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by the
president)
Political parties and leaders:
Citizens' Will Republican Party or CWRP (also called Civil Courage
Republican Party or CCRP) [Sanjaasurengiin OYUN]; Democratic Party
or DP [Tsakhiagiyn ELBEGDORJ]; Motherland-Mongolian New Socialist
Democratic Party or M-MNSDP [Badarchyn ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian
People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Miegombyn ENKHBOLD]; Mongolian
Republican Party or MRP [Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN]; People's Party
or PP [Lamjav GUNDALAI]
note: DP and M-MNSDP formed Motherland-Democracy Coalition (MDC) in
2003 and with CWRP contested June 2004 elections as single party;
MDC's leadership dissolved coalition in December 2004
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ARF, AsDB, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO,
ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ravdan BOLD
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: (202) 333-7117
FAX: (202) 298-9227
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark C. MINTON
embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021,
Ulaanbaatar-13
telephone: (11) 329095
FAX: (11) 320776
Flag description:
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red;
centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem
("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric
representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang
symbol)
Economy Mongolia
Economy - overview:
Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on
herding and agriculture. Mongolia has extensive mineral deposits.
Copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten and gold account for a large
part of industrial production. Soviet assistance, at its height
one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at
the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw
Mongolia endure both deep recession due to political inaction and
natural disasters, as well as economic growth because of
reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization
of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer
droughts in 2000-2002 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero
or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for
Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to
privatization. Growth was 10.6% in 2004 and 5.5% in 2005, largely
because of high copper prices and new gold production. Mongolia's
economy continues to be heavily influenced by its neighbors. For
example, Mongolia purchases 80% of its petroleum products and a
substantial amount of electric power from Russia, leaving it
vulnerable to price increases. China is Mongolia's chief export
partner and a main source of the "shadow" or "grey" economy. The
World Bank and other international financial institutions estimate
the grey economy to be at least equal to that of the official
economy, but the former's actual size is difficult to calculate
since the money does not pass through the hands of tax authorities
or the banking sector. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad
both legally and illegally are sizeable, and money laundering is a
growing concern. Mongolia settled its $11 billion debt with Russia
at the end of 2003 on favorable terms. Mongolia, which joined the
World Trade Organization in 1997, seeks to expand its participation
and integration into Asian regional economic and trade regimes.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.272 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.4 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.2% according to official estimate (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20.6% industry: 21.4% services: 58% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 1.488 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation: herding/agriculture 42%, mining 4%, manufacturing 6%, trade 14%, services 29%, public sector 5% (2003)
Unemployment rate:
6.7% (2003)
Population below poverty line:
36.1% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 37% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.5% (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $702 million
expenditures: $651 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle,
camels, horses
Industries:
construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper,
molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food and
beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber
manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:
4.1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
3.24 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
3.37 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - exports:
18 million kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - imports:
130 million kWh (2005 est.)
Oil - production:
548.8 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,220 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
515 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - imports:
11,210 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$852 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides,
fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
Exports - partners:
China 56.2%, Canada 15.6%, US 14.7% (2005)
Imports:
$1.011 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial
consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
Imports - partners:
Russia 35.8%, China 25.7%, Japan 6.3%, South Korea 6%, Germany 4.2%
(2005)
Debt - external:
$1.36 billion (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:
$215 million (2003)
Currency (code):
togrog/tugrik (MNT)
Currency code:
MNT
Exchange rates:
togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,187.17 (2005), 1,185.3 (2004),
1,146.5 (2003), 1,110.3 (2002), 1,097.7 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mongolia
Telephones - main lines in use:
156,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
557,200 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: network is improving with international direct
dialing available in many areas
domestic: very low density of about 5.5 main lines per 100 persons;
two wireless providers cover all but two provinces
international: country code - 976; satellite earth station - 1
Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 62, shortwave 3 (2004)
Radios:
155,900 (1999)
Television broadcast stations: 52 (plus 21 provincial repeaters and many low power repeaters) (2004)
Televisions:
168,800 (1999)
Internet country code:
.mn
Internet hosts:
272 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)
Internet users:
268,300 (2005)
Transportation Mongolia
Airports: 44 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports: 2 (2006)
Railways: total: 1,810 km broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 49,250 km paved: 1,724 km unpaved: 47,526 km (2002)
Waterways:
580 km
note: only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); Selenge
River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry
little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from May
to September (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 61 ships (1000 GRT or over) 319,053 GRT/479,190 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 49, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll
off 3
foreign-owned: 49 (China 4, Japan 1, North Korea 3, Lebanon 1,
Malaysia 1, Russia 13, Singapore 10, Syria 1, Thailand 1, UAE 5,
Ukraine 1, Vietnam 8) (2006)
Military Mongolia
Military branches:
Mongolian People's Army (MPA), Mongolian People's Air Force (MPAF);
there is no navy (2005)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is comprised of contract soldiers (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 736,182
females age 18-49: 734,679 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 570,435
females age 18-49: 607,918 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 34,674
females age 18-49: 34,251 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$23.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Mongolia
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Montenegro
Introduction Montenegro
Background:
The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century when the
Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta;
over subsequent centuries it was able to maintain its independence
from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro
became a theocratic state ruled by a series of bishop princes; in
1852, it was transformed into a secular principality. After World
War I, Montenegro was part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and, at the
conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved
in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, first as the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looser union of Serbia
and Montenegro. Following a three-year postponement, Montenegro held
an independence referendum in the spring of 2006 under rules set by
the EU. The vote for severing ties with Serbia exceeded the 55%
threshold, allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence
on 3 June 2006.
Geography Montenegro
Location:
Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
Geographic coordinates:
42 30 N, 19 18 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 14,026 sq km
land: 13,812 sq km
water: 214 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 625 km
border countries: Albania 172 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 225 km,
Croatia 25 km, Serbia 203 km
Coastline:
293.5 km
Maritime claims:
NA
Climate:
Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively
cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland
Terrain:
highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by
rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, hydroelectricity
Land use:
arable land: 13.7%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 85.3%
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor
Geography - note: strategic location along the Adriatic coast
People Montenegro
Population:
630,548 (2004)
Population growth rate:
3.5% (2004)
Birth rate:
12.6 births/1,000 population (2004)
Death rate:
9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004)
Nationality:
noun: Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Montenegrin
Ethnic groups:
Montenegrin 43%, Serbian 32%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5%, other
(Muslims, Croats, Roma) 12%
Religions:
Orthodox, Muslim, Roman Catholic
Languages:
Serbian (Ijekavian dialect - official), Bosnian, Albanian, Croatian
Government Montenegro
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Montenegro
conventional short form: Montenegro
local long form: Republika Crna Gora
local short form: Crna Gora
former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of
Montenegro
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Podgorica (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Cetinje (capital city)
Administrative divisions:
21 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Andrijevia, Bar,
Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi,
Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pluzine, Pljevlja,
Podgornica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak
Independence:
3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro); note - a referendum on
independence was held 21 May 2006
National holiday:
National Day, 13 July
Constitution:
12 October 1992 (was approved by the Assembly)
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 11 May 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Zeljko STURANOVIC (since 10
November 2006)
cabinet: Ministries act as cabinet
elections: president elected by direct vote for five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 11 May 2003 (next
to be held in 2008); prime minister proposed by president, accepted
by Assembly
election results: Filip VUJANOVIC elected on the third round; Filip
VUJANOVIC 63.3%, Miodrag ZIVKOVIC 30.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly (81 seats, elected by direct vote for four-year
terms; changed from 74 seats at the time of the elections)
elections: last held 10 September 2006 (next to be held 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Coalition for a European Montenegro 41, SNS 12, Coalition SPP/NS/DSS
11, PZP 11, Liberals and Bosniaks 3, Democratic League-Democratic
Prosperity 1, Democratic Union of Albanians 1, Albanian Alternative 1
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (five judges with nine-year terms); Supreme
Court (judges have life tenure)
Political parties and leaders:
Albanian Alternative or AA; Bosniak Party or BS [Rafet HUSOVIC];
Coalition for a European Montenegro (Democratic Party of Socialists
or DPS and Social Democratic Party or SDP) [Milo DJUKANOVIC];
Coalition SPP/NS/DSS; Democratic League-Party of Democratic
Prosperity [Mehmet BARHDI]; Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro
or DSS; Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Ferhat DINOSA];
Liberal Party of Montenegro or LP [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC]; Movement for
Changes or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]; People's Party of Montenegro or
NS [Predrag POPOVIC]; Serbian People's Party of Montenegro or SNS
[Andrija MANDIC]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC];
Social Democratic Party of Montenegro or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC];
Socialist People's Party or SNP [Predrag BULATOVIC]
International organization participation:
CEI, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, ICFTU, ILO, Interpol, IPU, ITU, OSCE, UN,
UPU, WHO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Miodrag VLAHOVIC
Flag description:
a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the
Montenegrin coat of arms centered
Economy Montenegro
Economy - overview:
The republic of Montenegro severed its economy from federal control
and from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC era and continues to maintain
its own central bank, uses the euro instead of the Yugoslav dinar as
official currency, collects customs tariffs, and manages its own
budget. The dissolution of the loose political union between Serbia
and Montenegro in 2006 led to separate membership in several
international financial institutions, such as the IMF, World Bank,
and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Montenegro
is pursuing its own membership in the World Trade Organization as
well as negotiating a Stabilization and Association agreement with
the European Union in anticipation of eventual membership. Severe
unemployment remains a key political and economic problem for this
entire region. Montenegro has privatized its large aluminum complex
- the dominant industry - as well as most of its financial sector,
and has begun to attract foreign direct investment in the tourism
sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.412 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.125 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: % NA industry: % NA services: % NA
Labor force: 259,100 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2% industry: 30% services: 68% (2004)
Unemployment rate:
27.7% (2005)
Population below poverty line:
12.2% (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2004)
Investment (gross fixed):
% of GDP NA
Budget: revenues: NA expenditures: NA
Public debt: % of GDP NA
Agriculture - products: grains, tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes; sheepherding; commercial fishing negligible
Industries:
steelmaking, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism
Electricity - production:
2.864 billion kWh 2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
NA
Oil - production:
NA
Oil - consumption:
NA
Natural gas - consumption:
NA
Current account balance:
NA
Exports:
$171.3 million (2003)
Exports - partners:
Switzerland 83.9%, Italy 6.1%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.3% (2003)
Imports:
$601.7 million (2003)
Imports - partners:
Greece 10.2%, Italy 10.2%, Germany 9.6%, Bosnia and Herzegovina
9.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
NA
Debt - external:
NA
Economic aid - recipient:
NA
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8089 (2004), 0.886 (2003),
1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Montenegro
Telephones - main lines in use:
177,663 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
543,220 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to
European satellites
domestic: GSM wireless service, available through two providers with
national coverage, is growing rapidly
international: country code - 382 (the old code of 381 used by
Serbia and Montenegro will also remain in use until Feb 2007); two
international switches connect the national system
Radio broadcast stations:
31 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (2004)
Internet country code:
.me
Internet users:
50,000 (2004)
Transportation Montenegro
Airports:
5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Railways: total: 250 km standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2005)
Roadways: total: 7,353 km paved: 4,274 km unpaved: 3,079 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 9,458 GRT/10,172 DWT
by type: cargo 4
registered in other countries: 4 (Bahamas 2, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Bar
Military Montenegro
Military service age and obligation:
compulsory national military service abolished August 2006
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.306 billion
Military - note:
Montenegrin plans call for the establishment of a fully
professional armed forces
Transnational Issues Montenegro
Disputes - international:
ethnic Albanians in Kosovo refuse demarcation of the boundary with
Macedonia in accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia and
Montenegro delimitation agreement, which includes a section of
boundary with Montenegro
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Montserrat
Introduction Montserrat
Background:
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on
Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades
later. The British and French fought for possesion of the island for
most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British
possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was
converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century. Much
of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled
abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that
began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity
since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.
Geography Montserrat
Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
16 45 N, 62 12 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 102 sq km
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills
volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere
Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)
Environment - current issues:
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Geography - note:
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three
major volcanic centers of differing ages
People Montserrat
Population:
9,439
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
(July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.3% (male 1,125/female 1,079)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,957/female 3,245)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 532/female 501) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.9 years
male: 28.6 years
female: 29.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.05% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
17.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.85 years
male: 76.67 years
female: 81.14 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.77 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality: noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups:
black, white
Religions:
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day
Adventist, other Christian denominations
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)
Government Montserrat
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Plymouth
geographic coordinates: 16 44 N, 62 14 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity;
interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate, in
the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat
Administrative divisions:
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
effective 19 December 1989
Legal system:
English common law and statutory law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Deborah BARNES-JONES (since 10 May 2004)
head of government: Chief Minister Lowell LEWIS (since 2 June 2006)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief
minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the
finance secretary
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party usually becomes chief minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected;
members serve five-year terms)
note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney
general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members
elections: last held 31 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - MCAP 36.1%, NPLM 29.4%,
MDP 24.4%, independents 10.1%; seats by party - MCAP 4, NPLM 3, MDP
1, independents 1
note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single
constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast
ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of
the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the
High Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]; Movement for
Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]; New People's
Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom, CDB, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the
flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow
harp with her arm around a black cross
Economy Montserrat
Economy - overview:
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a
damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June
1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and
social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the
island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited
the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the
lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops.
Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation
to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity.
The UK has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help
reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain
uninhabitable for another decade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
-1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.4% industry: 13.6% services: 81% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 4,521 note: lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million; including capital expenditures of $8.4
million (1997 est.)
Agriculture - products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Industries:
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
2 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.86 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
380 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$700,000 (2001)
Exports - commodities:
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes,
live plants; cattle
Exports - partners:
US, Antigua and Barbuda (2004)
Imports:
$17 million (2001)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured
goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Imports - partners:
US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (2004)
Debt - external:
$8.9 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:
Country Policy Plan (2001) is a three-year program for spending
$122.8 million in British budgetary assistance (2002 est.)
Currency (code):
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7
(2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Montserrat
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
70 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-664
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
7,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
3,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ms
Internet hosts:
386 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
17 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Montserrat
Airports: 2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 227 km
note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the
road system (2003)
Ports and terminals:
Plymouth
Military Montserrat
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,298 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,899 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 84 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Montserrat
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the
US and Europe
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Morocco
Introduction Morocco
Background:
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa,
successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th
century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR
(1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age.
In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half
century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's
sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a
protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle
with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city
of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new
country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara
during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the
territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s
resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which
first met in 1997. Parliamentary elections were held for the second
time in September 2002 and municipal elections were held in
September 2003.
Geography Morocco
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
32 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 446,550 sq km
land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain
(Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline:
1,835 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain:
northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of
bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 2% other: 79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,450 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to
earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
People Morocco
Population:
33,241,259 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.6% (male 5,343,976/female 5,145,019)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 10,505,018/female 10,580,599)
65 years and over: 5% (male 725,116/female 941,531) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.9 years
male: 23.4 years
female: 24.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.55% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
21.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 40.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 43.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 36.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.94 years
male: 68.62 years
female: 73.37 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2005)
Nationality: noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups:
Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages:
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of
business, government, and diplomacy
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.7%
male: 64.1%
female: 39.4% (2003 est.)
Government Morocco
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Rabat
geographic coordinates: 34 02 N, 6 51 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda,
Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara,
Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz,
Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer,
Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al
Hoceima-Taounate
note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political
status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government;
portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia
El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco
claims another region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, which falls entirely
within Western Sahara
Independence:
2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July
(1999)
Constitution:
10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create
bicameral legislature) September 1996
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of
Supreme Court
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Driss JETTOU (since 9 October
2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch following legislative elections
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber of
Counselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils,
professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year
terms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and a
lower house or Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; 295 by
multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women;
members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 6 October 2003 (next to
be held in 2006); Chamber of Representatives - last held 27
September 2002 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, PI 21,
USFP 16, MNP 15, PA 13, FFD 12, other 42; Chamber of Representatives
- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - USFP 50, PI 48,
PJD 42, RNI 41, MP 27, MNP 18, UC 16, PND 12, PPS 11, UD 10, other 50
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the
Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Action Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of Liberties or
ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj [Abdellah EL HARIF];
Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN];
Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizen's Initiatives
for Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union or UC
[Mohamed ABIED (interim)]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI
[Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud
ARCHANE]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI];
Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development
Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD
[Thami EL KHYARI]; Istiqlal Party (Independence Party) or PI [Abbas
El FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Saad Eddine
OTHMANI]; Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National
Democratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National Ittihadi
Congress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National Popular
Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents
or RNI [Ahmed OSMAN]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP
[Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI,
chairman]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI];
Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Party of the
Unified Socialist Left or GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; Popular
Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Reform and Development Party or
PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen
MADIH]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Mohammed
El-YAZGHI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; General
Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan
Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union
of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or
UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS,
MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOCI,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 462-7979 FAX: (202) 265-0161 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718 telephone: (37) 76 22 65 FAX: (37) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description:
red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as
Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green
are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is
more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf;
design dates to 1912
Economy Morocco
Economy - overview:
Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the
country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to
reduce unemployment that nears 20% in urban areas. Poverty has
actually increased due to the volatile nature of GDP, Morocco's
continued dependence on foreign energy, and its inability to promote
the growth of small and medium size enterprises. Despite structural
adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the
Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for current account
transactions and Morocco's financial sector is rudimentary. Moroccan
authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs is
key to domestic security and development. In 2004, Moroccan
authorities instituted measures to boost foreign direct investment
and trade by signing a free trade agreement with the US and selling
government shares in the state telecommunications company and in the
largest state-owned bank. The Free Trade agreement went into effect
in January 2006. In 2005, GDP growth slipped to 1.2% and the budget
deficit rose sharply - to 7.5% of GDP - because of substantial
increases in wages and oil subsidies. Long-term challenges include
preparing the economy for freer trade with the US and European
Union, improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth,
and raising living standards, which the government hopes to achieve
by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in
textiles.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$135.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$51.94 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21.7% industry: 35.7% services: 42.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 11.19 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40% industry: 15% services: 45% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
11% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
19% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40 (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $12.94 billion
expenditures: $16.77 billion; including capital expenditures of
$2.19 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:
72% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
Industries:
phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather
goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
4% NA%
Electricity - production:
17.35 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 95.4% hydro: 4.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
17.58 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
1.45 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
158,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
147,800 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
100 million bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
5 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
650 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
NA cu m
Natural gas - imports:
NA cu m
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.218 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$1.255 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$9.472 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals,
fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits,
vegetables
Exports - partners:
France 30.3%, Spain 18%, UK 6.2%, Italy 5.2%, India 4.1% (2005)
Imports:
$18.15 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment,
wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Imports - partners:
France 18.2%, Spain 11%, Saudi Arabia 6.8%, Russia 6.8%, Italy
6.1%, China 5.2%, Germany 4.7% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$16.47 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$15.61 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $218 million (2002)
Currency (code):
Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Currency code:
MAD
Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574
(2003), 11.021 (2002), 11.303 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,341,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
12.393 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities;
however, density is low with only 4 main lines available for each
100 persons
domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and
microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive;
principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national
network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural
service employs microwave radio relay
international: country code - 212; 7 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat;
microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara;
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in
Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and
Tunisia (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:
6.64 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ma
Internet hosts:
3,218 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
8 (2000)
Internet users:
4.6 million (2005)
Transportation Morocco
Airports: 60 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 11 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 715 km; oil 285 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 1,907 km
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:
total: 57,694 km
paved: 32,551 km (including 417 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,143 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 41 ships (1000 GRT or over) 382,781 GRT/285,435 DWT
by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, container 9, passenger/cargo
13, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 5 (France 1, Germany 2, Switzerland 1, UK 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi, Tangier
Military Morocco
Military branches:
Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan
Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan
Air Force (Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 7,908,864
females age 18-49: 7,882,879 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,484,787
females age 18-49: 6,675,729 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 353,377
females age 18-49: 341,677 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.31 billion (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5% (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Morocco
Disputes - international:
claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains
unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since
September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and
parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Morocco
protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta,
Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de
Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; discussions
have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation setting
limits on exploration and refugee interdiction since Morocco's 2002
rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from
the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching
areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed
to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America
destined for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Mozambique
Introduction Mozambique
Background:
Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with
independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economic
dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil
war hindered the country's development. The ruling Front for the
Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism
in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for
multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated
peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National
Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December
2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO
stepped down after 18 years in office. His newly elected successor,
Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, has promised to continue the sound economic
policies that have encouraged foreign investment.
Geography Mozambique
Location:
Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between
South Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates:
18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 801,590 sq km
land: 784,090 sq km
water: 17,500 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,571 km
border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland
105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline:
2,470 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical to subtropical
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in
northwest, mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources:
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Land use: arable land: 5.43% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 94.28% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,180 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and
southern provinces
Environment - current issues: a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile part
of the country
People Mozambique
Population:
19,686,505
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; the 1997
Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2006
est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 4,229,802/female 4,177,235)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 5,207,149/female 5,519,291)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 230,616/female 322,412) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.3 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.38% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
35.18 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
21.35 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 129.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 134.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 124.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 39.82 years
male: 39.53 years
female: 40.13 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
12.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.3 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
110,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some
locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups:
African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others),
Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Religions:
Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%,
none 23.1% (1997 census)
Languages:
Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spoken
by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena
6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%, other foreign
languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
Government Mozambique
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local long form: Republica de Mocambique
local short form: Mocambique
former: Portuguese East Africa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Maputo
geographic coordinates: 25 58 S, 32 35 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*;
Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*,
Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence:
25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution:
30 November 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 1-2 December 2004
(next to be held December 2009); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Armando GUEBUZA elected president; percent of vote
- Armando GUEBUZA 63.7%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 31.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on a secret
ballot to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held December
2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 62%, RENAMO
29.7%; seats by party - FRELIMO 160, RENAMO 90
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of its professional
judges are appointed by the president and some are elected by the
Assembly); other courts include an Administrative Court, customs
courts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courts
note: although the constitution provides for a separate
Constitutional Court, one has never been established; in its absence
the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders:
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de
Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, president];
Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional
Mocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or RENAMO-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA,
president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Institute for Peace and Democracy (Instituto para Paz e Democracia)
or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS, president]; Etica [Abdul CARIMO Issa,
chairman]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento para Paz e
Cidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos
Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]; Human Rights and
Development (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) or DHD [Artemisia
FRANCO, secretary general]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Armando PANGUENE chancery: 1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 293-7146 FAX: (202) 835-0245
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Helen LA LIME
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo
telephone: (1) 492797
FAX: (1) 490448
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with
a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is
edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed
star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an
open white book
Economy Mozambique
Economy - overview:
At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest
countries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal civil war from
1977-92 exacerbated the situation. In 1987, the government embarked
on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the
economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with
political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, have
led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Inflation
was reduced to single digits during the late 1990s although it
returned to double digits in 2000-03. Fiscal reforms, including the
introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service,
have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. In
spite of these gains, Mozambique remains dependent upon foreign
assistance for much of its annual budget, and the majority of the
population remains below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculture
continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force. A
substantial trade imbalance persists although the opening of the
Mozal aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investment
project to date, has increased export earnings. In late 2005, and
after years of negotiations, the government signed an agreement to
gain Portugal's majority share of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectricity
(HCB) company, a dam that was not transferred to Mozambique at
independence because of the ensuing civil war and unpaid debts. More
power is needed for additional investment projects in titanium
extraction and processing and garment manufacturing that could
further close the import/export gap. Mozambique's once substantial
foreign debt has been reduced through forgiveness and rescheduling
under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced
HIPC initiatives, and is now at a manageable level.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$26.18 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.727 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26.2% industry: 34.8% services: 39% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 9.2 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 81% industry: 6% services: 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
21% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:
70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.6 (1996-97)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
29.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.031 billion
expenditures: $1.93 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:
21% of GDP
Agriculture - products:
cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn,
coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers;
beef, poultry
Industries:
food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum,
petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
3.4% (2000)
Electricity - production:
15.14 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
10.46 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
9.5 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
5.875 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
60 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
60 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$-639 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$1.69 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk
electricity
Exports - partners:
Belgium 25.5%, South Africa 12.2%, Spain 11.6%, Italy 11.6%,
Germany 7.7% (2005)
Imports:
$2.041 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
South Africa 36.3%, Australia 12.8%, India 5.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.051 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$5.456 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$632.8 million (2001)
Currency (code):
metical (MZM)
Currency code:
MZM
Exchange rates:
meticais per US dollar - 23,061 (2005), 22,581 (2004), 23,782
(2003), 23,678 (2002), 20,704 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Mozambique
Telephones - main lines in use:
69,700 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.22 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system but not available generally
(extremely low density with less than 1 main line per 100 persons)
domestic: the system consists of open-wire lines and trunk
connection by microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter
international: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)
Radios:
730,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
67,600 (2000)
Internet country code:
.mz
Internet hosts:
6,985 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2002)
Internet users:
138,000 (2005)
Transportation Mozambique
Airports: 158 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 136 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 34 under 914 m: 87 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 918 km; refined products 294 km (2006)
Railways: total: 3,123 km narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1999)
Waterways:
460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa
Lake) (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,964 GRT/5,324 DWT
by type: cargo 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Belgium 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Beira, Maputo, Nacala
Military Mozambique
Military branches:
Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique
Navy (Marinha Mocambique, MM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de
Mocambique, FAM) (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,793,373 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,751,223 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 185,314 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$78.03 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Mozambique
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
Southern African transit point for South Asian hashish and heroin,
and South American cocaine probably destined for the European and
South African markets; producer of cannabis (for local consumption)
and methaqualone (for export to South Africa); corruption and poor
regulatory capability makes the banking system vulnerable to money
laundering, but the lack of a well-developed financial
infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering
center
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Namibia
Introduction Namibia
Background:
South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during
World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War
II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West
Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war
of independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it was
not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in
accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia won
its independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since.
Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a
landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during
its first 14 years of self rule.
Geography Namibia
Location:
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola
and South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 825,418 sq km
land: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 3,936 km
border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa
967 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline:
1,572 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain:
mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in
east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Natural resources:
diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc,
salt, hydropower, fish
note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 0.99%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99% (2005)
Irrigated land:
80 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
prolonged periods of drought
Environment - current issues:
very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification;
wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the
environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is
protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip
People Namibia
Population:
2,044,147
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
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 393,878/female 387,147)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 596,557/female 591,350)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 34,245/female 40,970) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 20 years
male: 19.8 years
female: 20.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.59% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
24.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
18.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 48.1 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 51.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 44.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.39 years
male: 44.46 years
female: 42.29 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.06 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
21.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
210,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
16,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)
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 includes 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
local long form: Republic of Namibia
local short form: Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Windhoek
geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 06 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends
first Sunday in April
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 21 March 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005)
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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 15 November 2004
(next to be held November 2009)
election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of
vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Den ULENGA 7.3%, Katuutire KAURA
5.1%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 4.2%, Justus GAROEB 3.8%, other 3.2%
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; 2
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 29-30 November 2004
(next to be held November 2010); National Assembly - last held 15-16
November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party -
SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%; seats by party - SWAPO
24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
SWAPO 75.1%, COD 7.2%, DTA 5%, NUDO 4.1%, UDF 3.5%, RP 1.9%, MAG
0.8%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, NUDO 3, UDF 3, RP 1,
MAG 1
note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body
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 [Jurie VILJOEN]; South West Africa People's
Organization or SWAPO [Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United Democratic
Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]; Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE];
National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Kuaima RIRUAKO]
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), IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick NANDAGO chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 986-0540 FAX: (202) 986-0443
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joyce BARR 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 world's worst inequality of income distribution.
The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the
Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand.
Privatization of several enterprises in coming years may stimulate
long-run foreign investment. Increased fish production and mining of
zinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred growth in 2003-05.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.16 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.976 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.7% industry: 31.5% services: 58.8% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 820,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 47% industry: 20% services: 33% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 35% (1998)
Population below poverty line:
the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% of
the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% 0.5%
highest 10%: NA% 64.5%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
70.7 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.945 billion
expenditures: $2.039 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
32.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish
Industries:
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamonds,
lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.464 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
NA
Electricity - consumption:
2.372 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
55 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports: 1.065 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
12,770 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
62.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$509.2 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$2.04 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed
fish, karakul skins
Exports - partners:
South Africa 33.4%, US 4% (2004)
Imports:
$2.35 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
South Africa 85.2%, US (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$312.1 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$712.9 million (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $160 million (2000 est.)
Currency (code):
Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
Currency code:
NAD; ZAR
Exchange rates:
Namibian dollars per US dollar - 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004),
7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Namibia
Telephones - main lines in use:
127,900 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
495,000 (2005)
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:
3,527 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
75,000 (2005)
Transportation Namibia
Airports: 137 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 116
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 20 (2006)
Railways: total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 42,237 km paved: 5,406 km unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,265 GRT/3,605 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Military Namibia
Military branches:
Namibian Defense Force: Army, Air Wing, Navy (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 441,293 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 217,118 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$149.5 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Namibia
Disputes - international:
border commission has yet to resolve small residual disputes with
Botswana 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; Namibia has supported and in 2004
Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to
build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing
a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the
river
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 12,618 (Angola) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Nauru
Introduction Nauru
Background:
The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear, since their language
does not resemble any other in the Pacific. The island was annexed
by Germany in 1888 and its phosphate deposits began to be mined
early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium. Nauru was
occupied by Australian forces in World War I and subsequently became
a League of Nations mandate. After the Second World War - and a
brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN trust territory. It
achieved its independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as 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
land: 21 sq km
water: 0 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
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
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:
13,287 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.9% (male 2,507/female 2,391)
15-64 years: 61.2% (male 4,004/female 4,123)
65 years and over: 2% (male 139/female 123) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.6 years
male: 20 years
female: 21.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.81% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
24.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.7 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.08 years
male: 59.5 years
female: 66.84 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.11 children born/woman (2006 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
local long form: Republic of Nauru
local short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island
Government type:
republic
Capital:
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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; amended 17 May 1968 (Constitution Day)
Legal system:
acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ludwig SCOTTY (since 22 June 2004); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ludwig SCOTTY (since 22 June 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of Parliament
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
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 23 October 2004 (next to be held not later than
2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - Nauru First Party 3,
independents 15
note: the president dissolved parliament on 30 September 2004 and
set new elections for 23 October 2004
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
loose multiparty system; Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru
Party (informal); Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party
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: chief of mission: Ambassador Vinci Niel CLODUMAR chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017 telephone: (212) 937-0074 FAX: (212) 937-0079 consulate(s): Agana (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, now significantly depleted. An Australian company in
2005 entered into an agreement intended to exploit remaining
supplies. 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 were 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 frozen wages and reduced overstaffed public service departments.
In 2005, the deterioration in housing, hospitals, and other capital
plant continued, and the cost to Australia of keeping the government
and economy afloat continued to climb. Few comprehensive statistics
on the Nauru economy exist, with estimates of Nauru's GDP varying
widely.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$60 million (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force - by occupation: note: 0.1% employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation
Unemployment rate:
90% (2004 est.)
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)
Budget:
revenues: $13.5 million
expenditures: $13.5 million (2005)
Agriculture - products:
coconuts
Industries:
phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
23 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
21.39 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$64,000 f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
phosphates
Exports - partners:
South Africa 63.7%, South Korea 7.6%, Canada 6.6% (2005)
Imports:
$20 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
Imports - partners:
South Korea 43.8%, Australia 36.2%, US 5.9%, Germany 4.3% (2005)
Debt - external:
$33.3 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$20 million mostly from Australia
Currency (code):
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004),
1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001)
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 hosts:
52 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
300 (2002)
Transportation Nauru
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 30 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 6 km (1999 est.)
Ports and terminals:
Nauru
Military Nauru
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,874 (2005 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
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@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
land: 5.4 sq km
water: 0 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% (2005)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes
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 2006 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 occur within refuge
waters.
Transportation Navassa Island
Ports and terminals: 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 19 December, 2006
@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. Citing
dissatisfaction with the government's lack of progress in addressing
the Maoist insurgency and corruption, the king in February 2005
dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency, imprisoned
party leaders, and assumed power. The king's government subsequently
released party leaders and officially ended the state of emergency
in May 2005, but the monarch retained absolute power until April
2006. After nearly three weeks of mass protests organized by the
seven-party opposition and the Maoists, the king allowed parliament
to reconvene on 28 April 2006.
Geography Nepal
Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:
28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 147,181 sq km
land: 143,181 sq km
water: 4,000 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:
Tarai 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
Natural resources:
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of
lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 16.07% permanent crops: 0.85% other: 83.08% (2005)
Irrigated land:
11,700 sq km (2003)
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 and
Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the
borders with China and India respectively
People Nepal
Population:
28,287,147 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.7% (male 5,648,959/female 5,291,447)
15-64 years: 57.6% (male 8,365,526/female 7,925,941)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 513,777/female 541,497) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.3 years
male: 20.1 years
female: 20.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.17% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
30.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
9.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 65.32 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 63.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 67.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.18 years
male: 60.43 years
female: 59.91 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.1 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
61,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepalese
Ethnic groups:
Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang
5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%,
unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)
Religions:
Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9%
(2001 census)
note: only official Hindu state in the world
Languages:
Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana)
5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%,
unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)
note: many in government and business also speak English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.6%
male: 62.7%
female: 34.9% (2000-2004 est.)
Government Nepal
Country name:
conventional long and short form: Nepal
local long and short form: Nepal
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Kathmandu
geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E
time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
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 (since 4 June 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 30
April 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Khadga Prasad OLI (since 2 May
2006) and Amik SHERCHAN since June 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet historically appointed by the monarch on the
recommendation of the prime minister; note - the prime minister
selected the Cabinet in May 2006 in consultation with the political
parties
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; note - following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of
a majority coalition historically has been appointed prime minister
by the monarch
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)
elections: House of Representatives - last held in May 1999; note -
Parliament was dissolved in May 2002 but was finally reconvened in
April 2006 with most of the members that were elected in 1999
election results: House of Representatives (for 1999 parliament) -
percent of vote by party - NC 37.3%, CPN/UML 31.6%, NDP (RPP) 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; note - NC, NSP, and NDP have since each split into two parties
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) [Pashupati Shumsher
RANA, chairman]; Nepali Congress-Democratic [Sher Bahadur DEUBA,
president]; Nepali Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, party
president, Sushil KOIRALA, vice president]; Nepal Sadbhavana
(Goodwill) Party or NSP - Mandal [Bhadri Prasad MANDAL, party
president]; Nepal Sadbhavana Party - Ananda Devi [Ananda DEVI,
president]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man
BIJUKCHHE, party chairman]; People's Front Nepal (Rastriya Jana
Morcha) [Amik SHERCHAN, chairman]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP
[Surya Bahadur THAPA, chairman]; note - split from RPP in March
2005; Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal [leader NA]; note - merged with
People's Front Nepal or PFN in 2002
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known
as PRACHANDA, chairman; Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI]; numerous small,
left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical
Nepalese antimonarchist groups
International organization participation:
AsDB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW,
SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 667-4550
FAX: (202) 667-5534
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTY
embassy: Panipokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: (1) 411-1179
FAX: (1) 441-9963
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 almost one-third of its population living below the
poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing
a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for
38% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of
agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain.
Security concerns relating to the Maoist conflict 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$39.14 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.655 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 21% services: 41% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 10.4 million note: severe lack of skilled labor (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 76% industry: 6% services: 18%
Unemployment rate:
42% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
31% (2003-2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 39.1% (2003-2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.7 (FY04/05)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.8% (October 2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.153 billion
expenditures: $1.789 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY05/06)
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat
Industries:
tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed
mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate:
3.8% (FY04/05)
Electricity - production:
2.565 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.5% hydro: 91.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.85 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
111 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
241 million kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,980 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
11,760 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$822 million f.o.b.; note - does not include unrecorded border
trade with India (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
Exports - partners:
India 53.7%, US 17.4%, Germany 7.1% (2005)
Imports:
$2 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer
Imports - partners:
India 47.5%, UAE 11.2%, China 10.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.9%, Kuwait 4.1%
(2005)
Debt - external:
$3.34 billion (March 2005)
Economic aid - recipient:
$424 million (FY00/01)
Currency (code):
Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Currency code:
NPR
Exchange rates:
Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 71.368 (2005), 73.674 (2004),
76.141 (2003), 77.877 (2002), 74.949 (2001)
Fiscal year:
16 July - 15 July
Communications Nepal
Telephones - main lines in use:
448,600 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
248,800 (2005)
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:
17,789 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)
Internet users:
175,000 (2005)
Transportation Nepal
Airports: 48 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 29 (2006)
Railways: total: 59 km narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 15,905 km paved: 8,573 km unpaved: 7,332 km (2003)
Military Nepal
Military branches:
Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service);
Nepalese Police Force
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,107,091
females age 18-49: 5,744,989 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 4.193 million
females age 18-49: 3,853,102 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 308,031
females age 18-49: 286,604 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$104.9 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (2005 est.)
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): 104,915 (Bhutan)
IDPs: 100,000-200,000 (ongoing conflict between government forces
and Maoist rebels; displacement spread across the country) (2005)
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 19 December, 2006
@Netherlands
Introduction Netherlands
Background:
The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain
in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring
and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the
world. After a 20-year French occupation, a 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
land: 33,883 sq km
water: 7,643 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: 21.96% permanent crops: 0.77% other: 77.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:
5,650 sq km (2003)
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:
16,491,461 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 1,515,123/female 1,445,390)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,656,448/female 5,525,481)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 994,723/female 1,354,296) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.4 years
male: 38.6 years
female: 40.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.49% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
10.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.96 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.96 years
male: 76.39 years
female: 81.67 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.66 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
19,000 (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%, Dutch Reformed 13%, Calvinist 7%, Muslim 5.5%,
other 2.5%, none 41% (2002)
Languages:
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
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:
name: Amsterdam
geographic coordinates: 52 23 N, 4 54 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: The Hague (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; on 26 July 1581
they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration;
however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of
Westphalia that Spain recognized this 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, most recently in 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 Laurens Jan BRINKHORST (since 31 March 2005); note - Prime
Minister BALKENENDE tendered his resignation on 30 June 2006
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 November 2006 (next to be
held November 2010)
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 26.5, PvdA 21.2%, Socialist Party 16.6%, VVD 14.6%, Party for
Freedom 5.9%, Green Party 4.6%, Christian Union 4.0%; seats by party
- CDA 41, PvdA 33, Socialist Party 25, VVD 22, Party for Freedom 9,
Green Party 7, Christian Union 6, other 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the
monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Ernst Hirsch BALLIN]; Christian
Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Lousewies VAN DER
LAAN]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter
BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Ton VAN DILLEN]; Party for Freedom [Geert
WILDERS]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD
[Pieter WINSEMIUS]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; plus a few
minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV (consisting of a merger
of Socialist and Catholic trade unions); Christian Trade Union
Federation or CNV; Trade Union Federation of Middle and High
Personnel or 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, Arctic Council (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux,
BIS, CBSS (observer), 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, IPU, ISO,
ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christiaan Mark Johan KRONER
chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 244-5300
FAX: (202) 362-3430
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roland E. ARNALL
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: (70) 310-2209
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 2% 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
2001-05, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four
years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the
EU average.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$497.9 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$581.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$30,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.1% industry: 24.4% services: 73.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 7.53 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2% industry: 19% services: 79% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.6% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
10.5% NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 22.9% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.9 (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $291.8 billion
expenditures: $303.7 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
52.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
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:
-1.4% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
95 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.9% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 4.3% other: 5.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
101.6 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
3.8 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
20.8 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
94,870 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
920,000 bbl/day (2003 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:
73.13 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
50.4 billion cu m (2003 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:
1.756 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$39.95 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$365.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 24.9%, Belgium 13%, France 9.4%, UK 9.1%, Italy 5.7%, US
4.3%, Spain 4.1% (2005)
Imports:
$326.6 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs,
clothing
Imports - partners:
Germany 16.6%, Belgium 9.3%, China 8.8%, US 7.6%, UK 5.8%, France
4.7%, Russia 4.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$20.54 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.645 trillion (30 June 2005)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $4 billion (2003 est.)
Currency (code):
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 - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),
1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Netherlands
Telephones - main lines in use:
7.6 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
15.834 million (2005)
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:
8,363,158 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
52 (2000)
Internet users:
10,806,328 (2004)
Transportation Netherlands
Airports: 27 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
condensate 81 km; gas 7,229 km; oil 578 km; refined products 716 km
(2006)
Railways:
total: 2,808 km
standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:
total: 134,000 km (including 3,270 km of expressways) (2004)
Waterways:
6,183 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 558 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,042,775 GRT/5,016,265 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 29, cargo 345, chemical tanker 29, container
59, liquefied gas 12, passenger 14, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum
tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 18, specialized
tanker 3
foreign-owned: 157 (Australia 1, Belgium 2, Denmark 9, Finland 13,
Germany 56, Ireland 10, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 7, Sweden 26,
UK 19, US 13)
registered in other countries: 222 (Antigua and Barbuda 14,
Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 24, Canada 1, Cayman Islands 4,
Cyprus 18, Gibraltar 5, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 29, Luxembourg 2,
Malta 6, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands Antilles 54, Norway 3,
Panama 21, Philippines 19, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 5, Singapore 2, UK 3, US 4, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Amsterdam, Groningen, IJmuiden, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen,
Zaanstad
Military Netherlands
Military branches:
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air
Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke
Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police, Defense Interservice
Command (DICO) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 20-49: 3,557,918
females age 20-49: 3,470,377 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 20-49: 2,856,691
females age 20-49: 2,786,495 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 99,934
females age 20-49: 95,818 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9.408 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.6% (2004)
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 19 December, 2006
@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 (France).
Geography Netherlands Antilles
Location:
Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed of
five islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast of
Venezuela, and St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius lie east of the
US Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates:
12 15 N, 68 45 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 960 sq km
land: 960 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint
Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
Area - comparative:
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 15 km border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint-Martin) 15 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% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
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:
221,736 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.9% (male 27,197/female 25,886)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 71,622/female 77,710)
65 years and over: 8.7% (male 7,925/female 11,396) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.8 years
male: 31.1 years
female: 34.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.79% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
14.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.03 years
male: 73.76 years
female: 78.41 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.99 children born/woman (2006 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 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other
Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2%
(2001 census)
Languages:
Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect),
English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%,
Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
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
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen
former: Curacao and Dependencies
Dependency status:
an autonomous country within 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:
name: Willemstad (on Curacao)
geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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 Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26
March 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature)
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 27 January 2006 (next to be held
by 2007)
note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, DP St. Maarten, UP Bonaire,
WIPM Saba, DP Statia
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)
elections: last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PAR 5, MAN 3, FOL 2, Forsa Korsou 2, National Alliance 2, PNP 2, UPB
2, DP St. E 1, DP St. M 1, BDP 1, WIPM 1
note: the government of Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE is a
coalition of several parties
Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Bonaire: Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];
Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI]
Curacao: Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic
Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO];
Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [Nelson
PIERRE]; Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New Antilles
Movement or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat I
Seguridat [Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular or
PLKP [Errol COVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emily
de JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE
LANNOOY]; Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano [Herman WIELS];
Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT]
Saba: Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward Islands
People's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL]
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E
[Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St.
Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD]
Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah
WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party
[Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN];
People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St.
Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party
[Bienvenido RICHARDSON]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Unions (AVBO) and Employers Association (VBC)
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); note - Mr. Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of 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, 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
eight 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):
$2.8 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,000 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 83,600 (2005)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1% industry: 20% services: 79% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
17% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $757.9 million
expenditures: $949.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)
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:
1.017 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
945.8 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
72,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$2.076 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products
Exports - partners:
US 29.4%, Panama 14.4%, Mexico 8.8%, Haiti 5.6%, Venezuela 4.9%,
Bahamas, The 4.5% (2005)
Imports:
$4.383 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners:
Venezuela 52.3%, US 21.4%, Italy 4.9%, Netherlands 4.6% (2005)
Debt - external:
$2.68 billion (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:
$21.5 million IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands
continued its support with $40 million (2004)
Currency (code):
Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
Currency code:
ANG
Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2005), 1.79
(2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Netherlands Antilles
Telephones - main lines in use:
81,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
200,000 (2004)
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 four Venezuelan channels) (2004)
Televisions:
69,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.an
Internet hosts:
19,204 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6
Internet users:
2,000 (2000)
Transportation Netherlands Antilles
Airports: 5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 152 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,289,462 GRT/1,671,649 DWT
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 13, cargo 68, chemical tanker
3, container 19, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3,
petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 4,
specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: 143 (Belgium 4, Cuba 1, Denmark 1, Germany 60,
Netherlands 54, Norway 5, Sweden 5, Turkey 9, UK 3, US 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (Netherlands 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Bopec Terminal, Fuik Bay, Kralendijk, Willemstad
Military Netherlands Antilles
Military branches: no regular military forces; National Guard, Police Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for National Guard recruitment; no conscription
(2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 54,200
females age 16-49: 56,868 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 45,273
females age 16-49: 47,166 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 1,720
females age 16-49: 1,657 (2005 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 19 December, 2006
@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 ended in the 1998
Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will transfer
an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New
Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct as many as
three referenda between 2013 and 2018, to decide whether New
Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence.
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
land: 18,575 sq km
water: 485 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: 0.32% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 99.46% (2005)
Irrigated land:
100 sq km (2003)
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:
219,246 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.4% (male 31,818/female 30,503)
15-64 years: 64.9% (male 71,565/female 70,815)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 6,773/female 7,772) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.8 years
male: 27.4 years
female: 28.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.24% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
18.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New
Caledonia (2006 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.27 years
male: 71.29 years
female: 77.39 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.28 children born/woman (2006 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 long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Dependency status:
territorial collectivity of France since 1998
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Noumea
geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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:
4 October 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 Michel MATHIEU (since 15
July 2005)
head of government: President of the Government Marie-Noelle
THEMEREAU (since 10 June 2004)
cabinet: Consultative Committee consists of eight members chosen
from leading figures on the island to advise the High Commissioner
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 for a
five-year term (no term limits); note - last election held 29 June
2004 when Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU was elected on the third vote with
8 votes for and 3 abstentions
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats;
members belong to 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, UC 7, FN 4, others 3
note: New Caledonia currently holds 1 seat in the French Senate; by
2010, New Caledonia will gain a second seat in the French Senate;
elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held not later
than September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - UMP 1; 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]; Caledonian
Union or UC; 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:
ICFTU, PIF (observer), SPC, 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 (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 8.8% services: 76.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 78,990 (including 11,300 unemployed) (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 20% industry: 20% services: 60% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
17.1% (2004)
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.)
Budget:
revenues: $856.3 million
expenditures: $836.5 million (1996 est.)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish
Industries:
nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.6% (1996)
Electricity - production:
1.581 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 76.3% hydro: 23.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.47 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$999 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners:
Japan 21.4%, France 16%, Taiwan 11.4%, South Korea 10.1%, Spain 9%,
China 7.2%, South Africa 5.2%, Belgium 4.5% (2005)
Imports:
$1.636 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 39%, Singapore 17.4%, Australia 13%, NZ 5.3% (2005)
Debt - external:
$79 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$525 million annual subsidy from France (2004)
Currency (code):
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Currency code:
XPF
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 95.89
(2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002), 133.26 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications New Caledonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
55,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
134,300 (2005)
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:
13,962 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
76,000 (2005)
Transportation New Caledonia
Airports: 25 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 6 (2006)
Heliports:
6 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 5,432 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,566 GRT/2,543 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Noumea
Military New Caledonia
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces
(includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 50,874 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 40,822 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 1,907 (2005 est.)
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 19 December, 2006
@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
land: 268,021 sq km
water: NA
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area - comparative:
about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
15,134 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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: 5.54% permanent crops: 6.92% other: 87.54% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,850 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by
invasive species
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:
4,076,140 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.1% (male 439,752/female 419,174)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,374,850/female 1,361,570)
65 years and over: 11.8% (male 210,365/female 270,429) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.9 years
male: 33.2 years
female: 34.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.99% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
13.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.81 years
male: 75.82 years
female: 81.93 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2006 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:
European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%,
other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)
Religions:
Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist
2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other
3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (official), Maori (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government New Zealand
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Wellington
geographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends
third Sunday in March
note: New Zealand is divided into two time zones, including Chatham
Island
Administrative divisions:
16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury,
Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui,
Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
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, as well as The Constitution Act
1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987,
effective 1 January 1987
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 Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August
2006)
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 seven Maori constituencies, and 51
proportional seats chosen from party lists, all to serve three-year
terms)
elections: last held 17 September 2005 (next to be held not later
than 15 November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NZLP 41.1%, NP 39.1%,
NZFP 5.72%, Green Party 5.3%, Maori 2.12%, UF 2.67%, ACT New Zealand
1.51%, Progressive 1.16%; seats by party - NZLP 50, NP 48, NZFP 7,
Green Party 6, Maori 4, UF 3, ACT New Zealand 2, Progressive 1
note: results of 2005 election saw the total number of seats
increase to 121 because the Maori Party won one more electorate seat
than its entitlement under the party vote
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - Judges appointed
by the Governor-General
Political parties and leaders:
ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS];
Maori Party [Whatarangi WINIATA]; National Party or NP [Don BRASH];
New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor
Party or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; Progressive Party [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, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roy N. FERGUSON chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 328-4800 FAX: (202) 667-5227 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William P. McCORMICK
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 risen
for six consecutive years and was more than $24,000 in 2005 in
purchasing power parity terms. New Zealand is heavily dependent on
trade - particularly in agricultural products - to drive growth.
Exports are equal to about 22% of GDP. Thus far the economy has been
resilient, and the Labor Government promises that expenditures on
health, education, and pensions will increase proportionately to
output.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$102 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$94.6 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.3% industry: 27.3% services: 68.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.13 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10% industry: 25% services: 65% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA (1991 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.2 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $43.1 billion
expenditures: $37.57 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
21.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef,
lamb and mutton, dairy products; fish
Industries:
food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery,
transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate:
-2.5% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
39.82 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 31.6% hydro: 57.8% nuclear: 0% other: 10.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
37.03 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
31,740 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
151,900 bbl/day (2003 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:
4.773 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
4.773 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
37.38 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$-9.688 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$22.21 billion (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
Exports - partners:
Australia 21.4%, US 14.1%, Japan 10.6%, China 5.1%, UK 4.7% (2005)
Imports:
$24.57 billion (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum,
electronics, textiles, plastics
Imports - partners:
Australia 20.9%, US 11%, Japan 11%, China 10.9%, Germany 4.9% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.893 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$42.84 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $99.7 million
Currency (code):
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:
NZD
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004),
1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications New Zealand
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,800,500 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.53 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
domestic: NA
international: country code - 64; submarine cables to Australia and
Fiji; 8 satellite earth stations - 1 InMarSat (Pacific Ocean), 7
other
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:
1,050,197 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
36 (2000)
Internet users:
3.2 million (2005)
Transportation New Zealand
Airports: 118 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 45 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: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 73 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 40 (2006)
Pipelines:
condensate 224 km; gas 1,693 km; liquid petroleum gas 45 km; oil
280 km; refined products 288 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 4,128 km
narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:
total: 92,662 km
paved: 59,109 km (including 169 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,553 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 136,361 GRT/124,972 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum
tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 4 (Australia 2, Germany 1, Isle of Man 1)
registered in other countries: 8 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Cook
Islands 1, Dominica 4, France 1, UK 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Auckland, Lyttelton, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei
Military New Zealand
Military branches:
New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New
Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be
deployed until the age of 18 (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 17-49: 984,700
females age 17-49: 965,170 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 809,519
females age 17-49: 802,069 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 29,738
females age 17-49: 28,523 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.147 billion (FY03/04)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues New Zealand
Disputes - international: asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency) [see Antarctica]
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@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 2001, saw the
Sandinistas defeated, but voting in 2006 announced the return of
former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra. Nicaragua's
infrastructure and economy - hard hit by the earlier civil war and
by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 - are slowly being rebuilt.
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
land: 120,254 sq km
water: 9,240 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: 14.81% permanent crops: 1.82% other: 83.37% (2005)
Irrigated land:
610 sq km (2003)
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:
5,570,129 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.4% (male 1,031,897/female 994,633)
15-64 years: 60.5% (male 1,677,633/female 1,691,353)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 76,758/female 97,855) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.9 years
male: 20.5 years
female: 21.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.89% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
24.51 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
4.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 28.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 31.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.63 years
male: 68.55 years
female: 72.81 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.75 children born/woman (2006 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 72.9%, Evangelical 15.1%, Moravian 1.5%, Episcopal
0.1%, other 1.9%, none 8.5% (1995 census)
Languages:
Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)
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 long form: Republica de Nicaragua
local short form: Nicaragua
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Managua
geographic coordinates: 12 09 N, 86 17 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
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; reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system:
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January
2002); Vice President Alfredo GOMEZ Urcuyo (since 10 October 2005);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government;
Alfredo GOMEZ Urcuyo was elected Vice President by the deputies of
the National Assembly after Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon
resigned on 27 September 2005
head of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10
January 2002); Vice President Alfredo GOMEZ Urcuyo (since 10 October
2005)
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 (eligible for a second term);
election last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November 2011)
election results: Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) elected president -
38.07%, Eduardo MONTEALEGRE (ALN) 29%, Jose RIZO (PLC) 26.21%,
Edmundo JARQUIN (MRS) 6.44%; note - ORTEGA will take office 10
January 2007
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats;
members are elected by proportional representation and party lists
to serve five-year terms; 1 seat for the previous president, 1 seat
for the runner-up in previous presidential election)
elections: last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FSLN 38, PLC 25, ALN 23 (22 plus one for presidential candidate
Eduardo MONTEALEGRE, runner-up in the 2006 presidential election),
MRS 5, APRE 1 (outgoing President Enrique BOLANOS)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for five-year
terms by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for the Republic or APRE [Miguel LOPEZ Baldizon]; Central
American Unionist Party or PUCA [Blanca ROJAS]; Christian
Alternative Party or AC [Orlando TARDENCILLA Espinoza]; Conservative
Party or PC [Mario Sebastian RAPPACCIOLI]; Independent Liberal Party
or PLI [Anibal MARTINEZ Nunez, Pedro REYES Vallejos]; Independent
Liberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN [Carlos GUERRA Gallardo];
Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Liberal
Salvation Movement or MSL [Eliseo NUNEZ Hernandez]; New Liberal
Party or PALI [Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel]; Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance
or ALN [Eduardo MONTEALEGRE]; 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
[Dora Maria TELLEZ]; Unity Alliance or AU
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, IPU, 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 chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 939-6570, (202) 939-6573 FAX: (202) 939-6545 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Paul A. TRIVELLI embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: P.O. Box 327 telephone: 266-6010 FAX: 266-3861
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 Western Hemisphere's poorest countries, has
low per capita income, widespread underemployment, and a heavy
external debt burden. Distribution of income is one of the most
unequal on the globe. While the country has progressed toward
macroeconomic stability in the past few years, GDP annual growth has
been far too low to meet the country's needs, forcing the country to
rely on international economic assistance to meet fiscal and debt
financing obligations. Nicaragua qualified in early 2004 for some
$4.5 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted
Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative because of its earlier successful
performances under its International Monetary Fund policy program
and other efforts. In October 2005, Nicaragua ratified the
US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which will provide
an opportunity for Nicaragua to attract investment, create jobs, and
deepen economic development. High oil prices helped drive inflation
to 9.6% in 2005, leading to a fall in real GDP growth to 4% from
over 5% in 2004.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$16.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.03 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.5% industry: 27.5% services: 56% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.01 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 30.5% industry: 17.3% services: 52.2% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.6% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 45% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
55.1 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.6% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
27% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.134 billion
expenditures: $1.358 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
82.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame,
soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp,
lobsters
Industries:
food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles,
clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear,
wood
Industrial production growth rate:
2.4% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.887 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.9% hydro: 7.7% nuclear: 0% other: 8.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.848 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
21.8 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
23.3 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
14,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
25,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
758.9 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
15,560 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-835 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$1.55 billion f.o.b.; note - includes free trade zones (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts
Exports - partners:
US 60.7%, Mexico 8.6%, El Salvador 6.2% (2005)
Imports:
$2.865 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum
products
Imports - partners:
US 19.6%, Mexico 10.3%, Venezuela 9.5%, Costa Rica 8.5%, Guatemala
6.7%, El Salvador 4.5%, South Korea 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$727.8 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.188 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$419.5 million (2005 est.)
Currency (code):
gold cordoba (NIO)
Currency code:
NIO
Exchange rates:
gold cordobas per US dollar - 16.733 (2005), 15.937 (2004), 15.105
(2003), 14.251 (2002), 13.372 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Nicaragua
Telephones - main lines in use:
220,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.119 million (2005)
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:
24,452 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
140,000 (2005)
Transportation Nicaragua
Airports: 176 (2006)
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 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 165 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 141 (2006)
Pipelines: oil 54 km (2006)
Railways: total: 6 km narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 19,036 km paved: 2,299 km unpaved: 16,737 km (2005)
Waterways:
2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (2005)
Ports and terminals:
Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff
Military Nicaragua
Military branches:
Army (includes Navy, Air Force)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 17-49: 1,309,970
females age 17-49: 1,315,186 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 1,051,425
females age 17-49: 1,129,649 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 65,170
females age 17-49: 63,133 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$32.27 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.7% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Nicaragua
Disputes - international:
Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against
Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundary
involving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including the
Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; 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 19 December, 2006
@Niger
Introduction Niger
Background:
Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced
single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was
forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which
resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting
brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by
Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999 BARE was killed in a coup by military
officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections
that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year.
TANDJA was reelected in 2004. 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
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 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, molybdenum, gypsum,
salt, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 11.43% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 88.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:
730 sq km (2003)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: 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:
12,525,094 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.9% (male 2,994,022/female 2,882,273)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 3,262,114/female 3,083,522)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 150,982/female 152,181) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 16.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.92% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
50.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
20.91 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 118.25 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 122.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 114.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.76 years
male: 43.8 years
female: 43.73 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.46 children born/woman (2006 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: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
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 long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Niamey
geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district*
(communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua,
Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence:
3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution:
new constitution 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 Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mamadou TANDJA (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: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); second round last held 4 December 2004
(next to be held December 2009); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent of
vote - Mamadou TANDJA 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 25, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, PSDN 1
Judicial branch:
State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane
OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or
MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social Democratic Party or PSDN;
Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or
ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Autonomy
or PNA-Alouma'a [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and
Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Progressive
Party or PPN-RDA [Abdoulaye DIORI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress
or RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally or
RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Coalition Against a High Cost of Living [Nouhou ARZIKA]
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, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC,
OIF, 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 Aminata Maiga Djibrilla TOURE chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-4224 through 4227 FAX: (202)483-3169
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bernadette M. ALLEN embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone: 73 31 69 FAX: 73 55 60
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 one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking last on
the United Nations Development Fund index of human development. It
is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on
subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest
uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, a 2.9% population
growth rate, and the drop in world demand for uranium have undercut
the economy. Niger shares a common currency, the CFA franc, and a
common central bank, the Central Bank of West African States
(BCEAO), with seven other members of the West African Monetary
Union. In December 2000, Niger qualified for enhanced debt relief
under the International Monetary Fund program for Highly Indebted
Poor Countries (HIPC) and concluded an agreement with the Fund on a
Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Debt relief provided
under the enhanced HIPC initiative significantly reduces Niger's
annual debt service obligations, freeing funds for expenditures on
basic health care, primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural
infrastructure, and other programs geared at poverty reduction. In
December 2005, it was announced that Niger had received 100%
multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which translates into the
forgiveness of approximately $86 million USD in debts to the IMF,
excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC. Nearly half of the
government's budget is derived from foreign donor resources. Future
growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and
other mineral resources. Uranium prices have recovered somewhat in
the last few years. A drought and locust infestation in 2005 led to
food shortages for as many as 2.5 million Nigerians.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.59 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.432 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001)
Labor force:
70,000 salaried workers, 60% of whom are employed in the public
sector (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry: 6%
services: 4%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
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):
0.2% (2004 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, soap, textiles, food processing,
chemicals, slaughterhouses
Industrial production growth rate:
5.1% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
230 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
263.9 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
50 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,400 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$222 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions
Exports - partners:
France 47.8%, Nigeria 21.4%, US 20.3% (2005)
Imports:
$588 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
Imports - partners:
France 14.5%, US 10.7%, French Polynesia 7.5%, Nigeria 7.4%, Italy
6.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.1%, Belgium 4.6%, Germany 4.5%, China 4.5%
(2005)
Debt - external:
$2.1 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$453.3 million (2003)
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States (BCEAO)
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Niger
Telephones - main lines in use:
24,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
299,900 (2005)
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:
189 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
24,000 (2005)
Transportation Niger
Airports:
28 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 10,100 km
paved: 798 km
unpaved: 9,302 km (1999)
Waterways:
300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya
between September and March) (2005)
Ports and terminals:
none
Military Niger
Military branches:
Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army,
National Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service
obligation - two years (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,367,828
females age 18-49: 2,217,568 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,349,863
females age 18-49: 1,256,569 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 129,045
females age 18-49: 121,230 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$44.78 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (2005 est.)
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; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake
Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which
also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
@Nigeria
Introduction Nigeria
Background:
British influence and control over what would become Nigeria grew
through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War
II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960.
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 reforming 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. Although the April 2003
elections were marred by some irregularities, Nigeria is currently
experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence.
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
land: 910,768 sq km
water: 13,000 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