EUR

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)

Communications
Italy

Telephones - main lines in use:

26.89 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

78.571 million (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern, well developed, fast; fully automated telephone, telex, and data services domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks international: country code - 39; a series of submarine cables provide links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, North Africa, and US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas - 3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and NA Eutelsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM about 100, FM about 4,600, shortwave 9 (1998)

Radios:

50.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

358 (plus 4,728 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

30.3 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.it

Internet hosts:

17.702 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

93 (Italy and Holy See) (2000)

Internet users:

32 million (2007)

Transportation
Italy

Airports:

132 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 101 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 32 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 34 under 914 m: 13 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 19 (2007)

Heliports:

5 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 18,863 km; oil 1,258 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 19,460 km standard gauge: 18,038 km 1.435-m gauge (11,354 km electrified) narrow gauge: 123 km 1.000-m gauge (123 km electrified); 1,299 km 0.950-m gauge (161 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 487,700 km paved: 487,700 km (includes 6,700 km of expressways) (2005)

Waterways:

2,400 km note: used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared to road and rail (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 609 by type: bulk carrier 60, cargo 47, carrier 2, chemical tanker 159, combination ore/oil 1, container 25, liquefied gas 27, passenger 22, passenger/cargo 154, petroleum tanker 35, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 33, specialized tanker 13, vehicle carrier 27 foreign-owned: 64 (Denmark 3, France 2, Greece 6, Japan 1, Lebanon 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 2, Portugal 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 8, Taiwan 13, Turkey 1, UK 7, US 17) registered in other countries: 208 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 4, Belize 3, Cayman Islands 4, Cyprus 7, France 2, Liberia 41, Malta 50, Marshall Islands 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 4, Panama 28, Portugal 12, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17, Singapore 5, Slovakia 2, Spain 2, Sweden 9, Turkey 3, UK 5) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Augusta, Genoa, Livorno, Ravenna, Sarroch, Taranto, Trieste, Venice

Military
Italy

Military branches:

Italian Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Italian Navy (Marina Militare
Italiana, MMI), Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana,
AMI), Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri, CC) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-27 year of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished January 2005; women may serve in any military branch; 10-month service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 45 (Army and Air Force) or 39 (Navy) (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 13,884,079 females age 16-49: 13,158,378 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 11,285,488 females age 16-49: 10,680,672 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 290,740 female: 273,569 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Italy

Disputes - international:

Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa

Illicit drugs:

important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; money laundering by organized crime and from smuggling

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

@Jamaica

Introduction
Jamaica

Background:

The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino Indians, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced by African slaves. England seized the island in 1655 and established a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually obtained increasing independence from Britain, and in 1958 it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the Federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs affiliated with the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering. Violent crime, drug trafficking, and poverty pose significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.

Geography
Jamaica

Location:

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Geographic coordinates: