9194 lines
320 KiB
Plaintext
9194 lines
320 KiB
Plaintext
Afghanistan
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Geography
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Total area: 647,500 km2; land area: 647,500 km2
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Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
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Land boundaries: 5,826 km total; China 76 km, Iran 936 km,
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Pakistan 2,430 km, USSR 2,384 km
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Coastline: none--landlocked
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Maritime claims: none--landlocked
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Disputes: Pashtun question with Pakistan; Baloch question with Iran
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and Pakistan; periodic disputes with Iran over Helmand water rights;
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insurgency with Iranian and Pakistani involvement; traditional tribal
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rivalries
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Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
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Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
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Natural resources: natural gas, crude oil, coal, copper, talc, barites,
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sulphur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
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Land use: 12% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 46% meadows and
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pastures; 3% forest and woodland; 39% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
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Environment: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;
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soil degradation, desertification, overgrazing, deforestation, pollution
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Note: landlocked
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People
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Population: 15,862,293 (July 1990), growth rate 7.7% (1990)
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Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1990)
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Death rate: 18 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
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Net migration rate: 51 migrants/1,000 population (1990);
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note--there are flows across the border in both directions, but data are
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fragmentary and unreliable
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Infant mortality rate: 154 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
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Life expectancy at birth: 47 years male, 46 years female (1990)
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Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1990)
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Nationality: noun--Afghan(s); adjective--Afghan
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Ethnic divisions: 50% Pashtun, 25% Tajik, 9% Uzbek, 12-15% Hazara; minor
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ethnic groups include Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others
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Religion: 74% Sunni Muslim, 15% Shia Muslim, 11% other
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Language: 50% Pashtu, 35% Afghan Persian (Dari), 11% Turkic languages
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(primarily Uzbek and Turkmen), 4% thirty minor languages (primarily
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Balochi and Pashai); much bilingualism
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Literacy: 12%
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Labor force: 4,980,000; 67.8% agriculture and animal husbandry,
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10.2% industry, 6.3% construction, 5.0% commerce, 10.7% services and other
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(1980 est.)
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Organized labor: some small government-controlled unions
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Government
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Long-form name: Republic of Afghanistan
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Type: authoritarian
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Capital: Kabul
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Administrative divisions: 30 provinces (velayat, singular--velayat);
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Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah,
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Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol,
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Kandahar, Kapisa, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar,
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Nangarhar, Nimruz, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika,
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Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, Zabol;
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note--there may be a new province of Nurestan (Nuristan)
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Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK)
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Constitution: adopted 30 November 1987
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Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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National holiday: Anniversary of the Saur Revolution, 27 April (1978)
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Executive branch: president, four vice presidents, prime minister,
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deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
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Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Meli Shura) consists of
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an upper house or Senate (Sena) and a lower house or House of Representatives
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(Wolasi Jirgah)
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Judicial branch: Supreme Court
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Leaders:
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Chief of State and Head of Government--President (Mohammad)
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NAJIBULLAH (Ahmadzai) (since 30 November 1987); Chairman of the Council
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of Ministers Executive Committee Soltan Ali KESHTMAND (since 21
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February 1989); Prime Minister Fazil Haq KHALIQYAR (since 21 May 1990)
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Political parties and leaders: only party--the People's Democratic
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Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) has two factions--the Parchami faction
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has been in power since December 1979 and members of the deposed Khalqi
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faction continue to hold some important posts mostly in the military and
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Ministry of Interior; nonparty figures hold some posts
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Suffrage: universal, male ages 15-50
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Elections:
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Senate--last held NA April 1988 (next to be held April 1991);
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results--PDPA is the only party;
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seats--(192 total, 115 elected) PDPA 115;
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House of Representatives--last held NA April 1988 (next to be held
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April 1993);
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results--PDPA is the only party;
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seats--(234 total) PDPA 184, 50 seats reserved for opposition
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Communists: the PDPA claims 200,000 members (1988)
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Other political or pressure groups: the military and other branches of
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internal security have been rebuilt by the USSR; insurgency continues
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throughout the country; widespread anti-Soviet and antiregime sentiment
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and opposition on religious and political grounds
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Member of: ADB, CCC, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
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IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, ITU, NAM, UN,
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UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO, WSG; suspended from OIC in January 1980
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Diplomatic representation: Minister-Counselor, Charge d'Affaires MIAGOL;
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Chancery at 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
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(202) 234-3770 or 3771; US--Charge d'Affaires (vacant);
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Embassy at Ansari Wat, Wazir Akbar Khan Mina, Kabul; telephone 62230 through
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62235 or 62436; note--US Embassy in Kabul was closed in January 1989
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Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with the
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national coat of arms superimposed on the hoist side of the black and red bands;
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similar to the flag of Malawi which is shorter and bears a radiant, rising, red
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sun centered in the black band
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Economy
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Overview: Fundamentally, Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked
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country, highly dependent on farming (wheat especially) and livestock
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raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations, however, have played
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second fiddle to political and military upheavals, including the nine-year
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Soviet military occupation (ended 15 February 1989) and the continuing
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bloody civil war. Over the past decade, one-third of the population has
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fled the country, with Pakistan sheltering some 3 million refugees
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and Iran perhaps 2 million. Another 1 million have probably
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moved into and around urban areas within Afghanistan. Large numbers
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of bridges, buildings, and factories have been destroyed or
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damaged by military action or sabotage. Government claims
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to the contrary, gross domestic product almost certainly is
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lower than 10 years ago because of the loss of labor and capital
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and the disruption of trade and transport. Official claims indicate
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that agriculture grew by 0.7% and industry by 3.5% in 1988.
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GDP: $3 billion, per capita $200; real growth rate 0% (1989 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): over 50% (1989 est.)
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Unemployment rate: NA%
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Budget: revenues NA; expenditures $646.7 million, including capital
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expenditures of $370.2 million (FY87 est.)
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Exports: $512 million (f.o.b., FY88);
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commodities--natural gas 55%, fruits and nuts 24%, handwoven carpets,
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wool, cotton, hides, and pelts;
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partners--mostly USSR and Eastern Europe
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Imports: $996 million (c.i.f., FY88);
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commodities--food and petroleum products;
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partners--mostly USSR and Eastern Europe
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External debt: $1.8 billion (December 1989 est.)
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Industrial production: growth rate 6.2% (FY89 plan)
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Electricity: 480,000 kW capacity; 1,470 million kWh produced,
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100 kWh per capita (1989)
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Industries: small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes,
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fertilizer, and cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, oil, coal, copper
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Agriculture: largely subsistence farming and nomadic animal husbandry;
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cash products--wheat, fruits, nuts, karakul pelts, wool, mutton
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Illicit drugs: an illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis
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for the international drug trade; world's second largest opium producer
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(after Burma) and a major source of hashish
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Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $265 million; Western
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(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $419 million;
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OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $57 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
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$4.1 billion
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Currency: afghani (plural--afghanis); 1 afghani (Af) = 100 puls
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Exchange rates: afghanis (Af) per US$1--50.6 (fixed rate since
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1982)
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Fiscal year: 21 March-20 March
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Communications
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Railroads: 9.6 km (single track) 1.524-meter gauge from Kushka (USSR) to
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Towraghondi and 15.0 km from Termez (USSR) to Kheyrabad transshipment
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point on south bank of Amu Darya
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Highways: 21,000 km total (1984); 2,800 km hard surface, 1,650 km
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bituminous-treated gravel and improved earth, 16,550 km unimproved earth and
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tracks
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Inland waterways: total navigability 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya, which
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handles steamers up to about 500 metric tons
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Pipelines: petroleum, oil, and lubricants pipelines--USSR
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to Bagram and USSR to Shindand; natural gas, 180 km
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Ports: Shir Khan and Kheyrabad (river ports)
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Civil air: 2 TU-154, 2 Boeing 727, assorted smaller transports
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Airports: 38 total, 34 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways;
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none with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
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15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
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Telecommunications: limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast
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services; television introduced in 1980; 31,200 telephones; stations--5 AM,
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no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station
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Defense Forces
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Branches: Armed Forces (Army; Air and Air Defense Forces); Border
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Guard Forces; National Police Force (Sarandoi); Ministry of
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State Security (WAD); Tribal Militia
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Military manpower: males 15-49, 3,880,124; 2,080,725 fit for
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military service; 168,021 reach military age (22) annually
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Defense expenditures: 9.1% of GDP (1984)
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.pa
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Albania
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Geography
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Total area: 28,750 km2; land area: 27,400 km2
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Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
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Land boundaries: 768 km total; Greece 282 km, Yugoslavia 486 km
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Coastline: 362 km
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Maritime claims:
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Continental shelf: not specified;
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Territorial sea: 15 nm
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Disputes: Kosovo question with Yugoslavia; Northern Epirus question
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with Greece
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Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry
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summers; interior is cooler and wetter
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Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
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Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, coal, chromium,
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copper, timber, nickel
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Land use: 21% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 15% meadows and pastures;
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38% forest and woodland; 22% other; includes 1% irrigated
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Environment: subject to destructive earthquakes; tsunami occur along
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southwestern coast; deforestation seems to be slowing
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Note: strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links
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Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
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People
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Population: 3,273,131 (July 1990), growth rate 1.9% (1990)
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Birth rate: 25 births/1,000 population (1990)
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Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
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Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
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Infant mortality rate: 52 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
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Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1990)
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Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1990)
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Nationality: noun--Albanian(s); adjective--Albanian
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Ethnic divisions: Albanian 90%, Greeks 8%, other 2% (Vlachs,
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Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.)
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Religion: Albania claims to be the world's first atheist state; all
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churches and mosques were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited;
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pre-1967 estimates of religious affiliation--70% Muslim, 20% Albanian Orthodox,
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10% Roman Catholic
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Language: Albanian (Tosk is official dialect), Greek
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Literacy: 75%
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Labor force: 1,500,000 (1987); about 60% agriculture, 40% industry and
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commerce (1986)
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Organized labor: Central Council of Albanian Trade Unions, 610,000
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members
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Government
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Long-form name: People's Socialist Republic of Albania
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Type: Communist state (Stalinist)
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Capital: Tirane
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Administrative divisions: 26 districts (rrethe, singular--rreth);
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Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Kolonje,
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Korce, Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Mat, Mirdite,
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Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane,
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Tropoje, Vlore
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Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Turkey); People's Socialist
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Republic of Albania declared 11 January 1946
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Constitution: 27 December 1976
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Legal system: judicial review of legislative acts only in the Presidium
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of the People's Assembly, which is not a true court; has not accepted compulsory
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ICJ jurisdiction
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National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 November (1944)
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Executive branch: president of the Presidium of the People's Assembly,
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three vice presidents, Presidium of the People's Assembly; chairman of the
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Council of Ministers, three deputy chairmen, Council of Ministers
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Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor)
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Judicial branch: Supreme Court
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Leaders:
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Chief of State--President of the Presidium of the People's Assembly Ramiz
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ALIA (since 22 November 1982);
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Head of Government--Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adil CARCANI
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(since 14 January 1982)
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Political parties and leaders: only party--Albanian Workers Party,
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Ramiz Alia, first secretary
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Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18
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Elections:
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President--last held 19 February 1987 (next to be held
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February 1991);
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results--President Ramiz Alia was reelected without opposition;
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People's Assembly--last held 1 February 1987 (next to be held
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February 1991);
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results--Albanian Workers Party is the only party;
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seats--(250 total) Albanian Workers Party 250
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Communists: 147,000 party members (November 1986)
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Member of: CCC, CEMA (has not participated since rift with USSR
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in 1961), FAO, IAEA, IPU, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
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WHO, WMO
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Diplomatic representation: none--the US does not recognize the Albanian
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Government and has no diplomatic or consular relations with Albania; there is
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no third-power representation of Albanian interests in the US or of US
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interests in Albania
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Flag: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center below a red
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five-pointed star outlined in yellow
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Economy
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Overview: As the poorest country in Europe, Albania's development
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lags behind even the least favored areas of the Yugoslav economy.
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The Stalinist-type economy operates on the principles of central
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planning and state ownership of the means of production. In recent years
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Albania has implemented limited economic reforms to stimulate its lagging
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economy, although they do not go nearly so far as current reforms
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in the USSR and Eastern Europe. Attempts at self-reliance and a
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policy of not borrowing from international
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lenders--sometimes overlooked in recent years--have greatly hindered the
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development of a broad economic infrastructure. Albania, however,
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possesses considerable mineral resources and is largely self-sufficient
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in food. Numerical estimates of Albanian economic activity are
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subject to an especially wide margin of error because the government
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is isolated and closemouthed.
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GNP: $3.8 billion, per capita $1,200; real growth rate NA% (1989 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
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Unemployment rate: NA%
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Budget: revenues $2.3 billion; expenditures $2.3 billion,
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including capital expenditures of NA (1989)
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Exports: $378 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.); commodities--asphalt,
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bitumen, petroleum products, metals and metallic ores, electricity, oil,
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vegetables, fruits, tobacco; partners--Italy, Yugoslavia, FRG,
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Greece, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary
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Imports: $255 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.); commodities--machinery,
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machine tools, iron and steel products, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals;
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partners--Italy, Yugoslavia, FRG, Czechoslovakia, Romania,
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Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, GDR
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External debt: $NA
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Industrial production: growth rate NA
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Electricity: 1,630,000 kW capacity; 4,725 million kWh produced,
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1,440 kWh per capita (1989)
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Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, lumber,
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oil, cement, chemicals, basic metals, hydropower
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Agriculture: arable land per capita among lowest in Europe; one-half of
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work force engaged in farming; produces wide range of temperate-zone crops
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and livestock; claims self-sufficiency in grain output
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Aid: none
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Currency: lek (plural--leke); 1 lek (L) = 100 qintars
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Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1--8.00 (noncommercial fixed rate
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since 1986), 4.14 (commercial fixed rate since 1987)
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Fiscal year: calendar year
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Communications
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Railroads: 543 km total; 509 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track and
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34 km narrow gauge, single track (1988); line connecting Titograd (Yugoslavia)
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and Shkoder (Albania) completed August 1986
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Highways: 16,700 km total; 6,700 km highway and roads, 10,000 km forest
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and agricultural
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Inland waterways: 43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake
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Ohrid, and Lake Prespa
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Pipelines: crude oil, 145 km; refined products, 55 km; natural gas, 64 km
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(1988)
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Ports: Durres, Sarande, Vlore
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Merchant marine: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 52,886 GRT/75,993
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DWT; includes 11 cargo
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Airports: 12 total, 10 usable; more than 5 with permanent-surface
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runways; more than 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
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Telecommunications: stations--17 AM, 5 FM, 9 TV; 52,000 TV sets;
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210,000 radios
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Defense Forces
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Branches: Albanian People's Army, Frontier Troops, Interior Troops,
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Albanian Coastal Defense Command, Air and Air Defense Force
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Military manpower: males 15-49, 882,965; 729,635 fit for military
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service; 33,598 reach military age (19) annually
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Defense expenditures: 1.1 billion leks, 11.3% of total budget (FY88);
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note--conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the official
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administratively set exchange rate would produce misleading results
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.pa
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||
Algeria
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Geography
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Total area: 2,381,740 km2; land area: 2,381,740 km2
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Comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
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Land boundaries: 6,343 km total; Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km,
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Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km,
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Western Sahara 42 km
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Coastline: 998 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in southeastern Algeria
|
||
|
||
Climate: arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along
|
||
coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is
|
||
a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow,
|
||
discontinuous coastal plain
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
|
||
uranium, lead, zinc
|
||
|
||
Land use: 3% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 13% meadows and
|
||
pastures; 2% forest and woodland; 82% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes;
|
||
desertification
|
||
|
||
Note: second largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 25,566,507 (July 1990), growth rate 2.8% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 87 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 64 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 5.4 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Algerian(s); adjective--Algerian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 99% Arab-Berber, less than 1% European
|
||
|
||
Religion: 99% Sunni Muslim (state religion); 1% Christian and Jewish
|
||
|
||
Language: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 52%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 3,700,000; 40% industry and commerce, 24% agriculture,
|
||
17% government, 10% services (1984)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 16-19% of labor force claimed; General Union of Algerian
|
||
Workers (UGTA) is the only labor organization and is subordinate to the
|
||
National Liberation Front
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
|
||
|
||
Type: republic
|
||
|
||
Capital: Algiers
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 31 provinces (wilayat, singular--wilaya); Adrar,
|
||
Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bouira, Constantine,
|
||
Djelfa, El Asnam, Guelma, Jijel, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mostaganem,
|
||
M'sila, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda,
|
||
Tamanrasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen; note--there may now be 48
|
||
provinces with El Asnam abolished, and the addition of 18 new provinces named
|
||
Ain Delfa, Ain Temouchent, Bordjbou, Boumerdes, Chlef, El Bayadh, El Oued,
|
||
El Tarf, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Mila, Naama, Relizane, Souk Ahras, Tindouf,
|
||
Tipaza, Tissemsilt
|
||
|
||
Independence: 5 July 1962 (from France)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976
|
||
|
||
Legal system: socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review
|
||
of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public
|
||
officials, including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted compulsory
|
||
ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
|
||
(cabinet)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly (Assemblee
|
||
Nationale Populaire)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--President Chadli BENDJEDID (since 7 February 1979);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Prime Minister Mouloud HAMROUCHE (since 9 September
|
||
1989)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: National Liberation Front (FLN),
|
||
Col. Chadli Bendjedid, chairman; Abdelhamid Mehri, secretary general;
|
||
the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and
|
||
as of 1 February 1990 19 legal parties existed
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held on 22 December 1988 (next to be held December
|
||
1993); results--President Bendjedid was reelected without opposition;
|
||
|
||
People's National Assembly--last held on 26 February 1987 (next
|
||
to be held by February 1992);
|
||
results--FLN was the only party;
|
||
seats--(281 total) FLN 281; note--the government has promised
|
||
to hold multiparty elections (municipal and wilaya) in June
|
||
1990, the first in Algerian history
|
||
|
||
Communists: 400 (est.); Communist party banned 1962
|
||
|
||
Member of: AfDB, AIOEC, Arab League, ASSIMER, CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT
|
||
(de facto), IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, ILO,
|
||
IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, ILZSG, INTERPOL, IOOC, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN,
|
||
UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abderrahmane BENSID;
|
||
Chancery at 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
|
||
(202) 328-5300;
|
||
US--Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS; Embassy at 4 Chemin Cheich Bachir
|
||
Brahimi, Algiers (mailing address is B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers);
|
||
telephone <20>213<31> (2) 601-425 or 255, 186; there is a US Consulate in Oran
|
||
|
||
Flag: two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white
|
||
with a red five-pointed star within a red crescent; the crescent,
|
||
star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state
|
||
religion)
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The exploitation of oil and natural gas products forms the
|
||
backbone of the economy. Algeria depends on hydrocarbons for nearly all of its
|
||
export receipts, about 30% of government revenues, and nearly 25%
|
||
of GDP. In 1973-74 the sharp increase in oil prices led to a booming economy
|
||
that helped to finance an ambitious program of industrialization. Plunging oil
|
||
and gas prices, combined with the mismanagement of Algeria's highly centralized
|
||
economy, have brought the nation to its most serious social and economic crisis
|
||
since independence. The government has promised far-reaching reforms, including
|
||
giving public sector companies more autonomy, encouraging private-sector
|
||
activity, boosting gas and nonhydrocarbon exports, and a major overhaul
|
||
of the banking and financial systems. In 1988 the government started to
|
||
implement a new economic policy to dismantle large state farms into
|
||
privately operated units.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $54.1 billion, per capita $2,235; real growth rate - 1.8%
|
||
(1988)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.9% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 19% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $17.4 billion; expenditures $22.0 billion, including
|
||
capital expenditures of $8.0 billion (1988)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $9.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);
|
||
commodities--petroleum and natural gas 98%;
|
||
partners--Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Italy, France, US
|
||
|
||
Imports: $7.8 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);
|
||
commodities--capital goods 35%, consumer goods 36%, food 20%;
|
||
partners--France 25%, Italy 8%, FRG 8%, US 6-7%
|
||
|
||
External debt: $26.2 billion (December 1989)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 5.4% (1986)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 4,333,000 kW capacity; 14,370 million kWh produced,
|
||
580 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: petroleum, light industries, natural gas, mining, electrical,
|
||
petrochemical, food processing
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GDP and employs 24% of labor force;
|
||
net importer of food--grain, vegetable oil, and sugar; farm production
|
||
includes wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits, sheep, and cattle
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-85), $1.4 billion; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $8.2 billion;
|
||
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.8 billion; Communist countries (1970-88),
|
||
$2.7 billion
|
||
|
||
Currency: Algerian dinar (plural--dinars); 1 Algerian dinar
|
||
(DA) = 100 centimes
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1--8.0086 (January
|
||
1990), 7.6086 (1989), 5.9148 (1988), 4.8497 (1987), 4.7023 (1986), 5.0278 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 4,146 km total; 2,632 km standard gauge (1.435 m), 1,258 km
|
||
1.055-meter gauge, 256 km 1.000-meter gauge; 300 km electrified; 215 km double
|
||
track
|
||
|
||
Highways: 80,000 km total; 60,000 km concrete or bituminous, 20,000 km
|
||
gravel, crushed stone, unimproved earth
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: crude oil, 6,612 km; refined products, 298 km; natural gas,
|
||
2,948 km
|
||
|
||
Ports: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Jijel, Mers el Kebir, Mostaganem,
|
||
Oran, Skikda
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 75 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 900,957
|
||
GRT/1,063,994 DWT; includes 5 passenger, 27 cargo, 2 vehicle carrier,
|
||
10 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
|
||
9 liquefied gas, 7 chemical tanker, 9 bulk, 1 specialized liquid cargo
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 42 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 147 total, 136 usable; 53 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
2 with runways over 3,660 m; 29 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 68 with runways
|
||
1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international service in the
|
||
north, sparse in the south; 693,000 telephones; stations--26 AM, no FM, 113 TV;
|
||
1,550,000 TV sets; 3,500,000 receiver sets; 6 submarine cables; coaxial cable or
|
||
radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; satellite earth
|
||
stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Intersputnik,
|
||
1 ARABSAT, and 15 domestic
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 5,886,334; 3,638,458 fit for military
|
||
service; 293,476 reach military age (19) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 1.8% of GDP, or $974 million (1989 est.)
|
||
.pa
|
||
American Samoa
|
||
(territory of the US)
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 199 km2; land area: 199 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 116 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 m;
|
||
|
||
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds;
|
||
annual rainfall averages 124 inches; rainy season from November to April,
|
||
dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation
|
||
|
||
Terrain: five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal
|
||
plains, two coral atolls
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: pumice and pumicite
|
||
|
||
Land use: 10% arable land; 5% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
|
||
75% forest and woodland; 10% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: typhoons common from December to March
|
||
|
||
Note: Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in
|
||
the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by
|
||
peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location about 3,700 km
|
||
south-southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between
|
||
Hawaii and New Zealand
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 41,840 (July 1990), growth rate 2.9% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 41 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: - 8 immigrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 11 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 5.4 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--American Samoan(s); adjective--American Samoan
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 90% Samoan (Polynesian), 2% Caucasian, 2% Tongan,
|
||
6% other
|
||
|
||
Religion: about 50% Christian Congregationalist, 20% Roman Catholic,
|
||
30% mostly Protestant denominations and other
|
||
|
||
Language: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian
|
||
languages) and English; most people are bilingual
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 99%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 10,000; 48% government, 33% tuna canneries, 19% other
|
||
(1986 est.)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: NA
|
||
|
||
Note: about 65,000 American Samoans live in the States of
|
||
California and Washington and 20,000 in Hawaii
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Territory of American Samoa
|
||
|
||
Type: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US
|
||
|
||
Capital: Pago Pago
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
|
||
|
||
Independence: none (territory of the US)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: US president, governor, lieutenant governor
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature (Fono) consists of an upper
|
||
house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: High Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);
|
||
Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Governor Peter Tali COLEMAN (since 20
|
||
January 1989);
|
||
Lieutenant Governor Galea'i POUMELE (since NA 1989)
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US nationals,
|
||
not US citizens
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
Governor--last held 7 November 1988 (next to be held November
|
||
1992); results--Peter T. Coleman was elected (percent of vote NA);
|
||
|
||
Senate--last held 7 November 1988 (next to be held November
|
||
1992);
|
||
results--senators elected by county councils from 12 senate
|
||
districts;
|
||
seats--(18 total) number of seats by party NA;
|
||
|
||
House of Representatives--last held 7 November 1988 (next to be
|
||
held November 1990);
|
||
results--representatives popularly elected from 17 house districts;
|
||
seats--(21 total, 20 elected and 1 nonvoting delegate from Swain's
|
||
Island);
|
||
|
||
US House of Representatives--last held 19 November 1988 (next
|
||
to be held November 1990);
|
||
results--Eni R. F. H. Faleomavaega elected as a nonvoting delegate
|
||
|
||
Communists: none
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
|
||
|
||
Flag: blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly
|
||
side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying
|
||
toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority,
|
||
a staff and a war club
|
||
|
||
Note: administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of
|
||
Territorial and International Affairs; indigenous inhabitants are US
|
||
nationals, not citizens of the US
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Economic development is strongly linked to the US, with
|
||
which American Samoa does 90% of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna
|
||
processing plants are the backbone of the private sector economy, with canned
|
||
tuna the primary export. The tuna canneries are the second-largest
|
||
employer, exceeded only by the government. Other economic activities include
|
||
meat canning, handicrafts, dairy farming, and a slowly developing tourist
|
||
industry. Tropical agricultural production provides little surplus for export.
|
||
|
||
GNP: $190 million, per capita $5,210; real growth rate NA% (1985)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 13.4% (1986)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $90.3 million; expenditures $93.15 million, including
|
||
capital expenditures of $4.9 million (1988)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $288 million (f.o.b., 1987);
|
||
commodities--canned tuna 93%;
|
||
partners--US 99.6%
|
||
|
||
Imports: $346 million (c.i.f., 1987);
|
||
commodities--building materials 18%, food 17%, petroleum
|
||
products 14%;
|
||
partners--US 72%, Japan 7%, NZ 7%, Australia 5%, other 9%
|
||
|
||
External debt: $NA
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 35,000 kW capacity; 70 million kWh produced,
|
||
1,720 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign supplies
|
||
of raw tuna)
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams,
|
||
copra, pineapples, papayas
|
||
|
||
Aid: $20.1 million in operational funds and $5.8 million in construction
|
||
funds for capital improvement projects from the US Department of Interior (1989)
|
||
|
||
Currency: US currency is used
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: US currency is used
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: small marine railroad in Pago Pago harbor
|
||
|
||
Highways: 350 km total; 150 km paved, 200 km unpaved
|
||
|
||
Ports: Pago Pago, Ta'u
|
||
|
||
Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440 to 3,659 m
|
||
(international airport at Tafuna, near Pago Pago); small airstrips on
|
||
Ta'u and Ofu
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: 6,500 telephones; stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; good
|
||
telex, telegraph, and facsimile services; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth
|
||
station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
|
||
.pa
|
||
Andorra
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 450 km2; land area: 450 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 125 km total; France 60 km, Spain 65 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and cool, dry summers
|
||
|
||
Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber,
|
||
iron ore, lead
|
||
|
||
Land use: 2% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 56% meadows and pastures;
|
||
22% forest and woodland; 20% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: deforestation, overgrazing
|
||
|
||
Note: landlocked
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 51,895 (July 1990), growth rate 2.6% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 18 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Andorran(s); adjective--Andorran
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: Catalan stock; 61% Spanish, 30% Andorran, 6% French, 3%
|
||
other
|
||
|
||
Religion: virtually all Roman Catholic
|
||
|
||
Language: Catalan (official); many also speak some French and Castilian
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 100%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: NA
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: none
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Principality of Andorra
|
||
|
||
Type: unique coprincipality under formal sovereignty of president of
|
||
France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally by
|
||
officials called verguers
|
||
|
||
Capital: Andorra la Vella
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies,
|
||
singular--parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana,
|
||
Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
|
||
|
||
Independence: 1278
|
||
|
||
Constitution: none; some pareatges and decrees, mostly custom and usage
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review
|
||
of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: two co-princes (president of France, bishop of
|
||
Seo de Urgel in Spain), two designated representatives (French veguer,
|
||
Episcopal veguer), two permanent delegates (French prefect for the department
|
||
of Pyrenees-Orientales, Spanish vicar general for the Seo de Urgel diocese),
|
||
president of government, Executive Council
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys (Consell
|
||
General de las Valls)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: civil cases--Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan
|
||
(France) or the Ecclesiastical Court of the bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain);
|
||
criminal cases--Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes)
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chiefs of State--French Co-Prince Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May
|
||
1981), represented by Veguer de Franca Louis DEBLE; Spanish Episcopal
|
||
Co-Prince Mgr. Joan MARTI y Alanis (since 31 January 1971), represented
|
||
by Veguer Episcopal Francesc BADIA Batalla;
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Josep PINTAT Solans (since NA 1984)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: political parties not yet legally
|
||
recognized; traditionally no political parties but partisans for
|
||
particular independent candidates for the General Council on the basis of
|
||
competence, personality, and orientation toward Spain or France; various small
|
||
pressure groups developed in 1972; first formal political party, Andorran
|
||
Democratic Association, was formed in 1976 and reorganized in 1979 as
|
||
Andorran Democratic Party
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
General Council of the Valleys--last held 11 December 1989
|
||
(next to be held December 1993);
|
||
results--percent of vote NA;
|
||
seats--(28 total) number of seats by party NA
|
||
|
||
Communists: negligible
|
||
|
||
Member of: CCC, UNESCO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Andorra has no mission in the US;
|
||
US--includes Andorra within the Barcelona (Spain) Consular District and
|
||
the US Consul General visits Andorra periodically; Consul General Ruth A. DAVIS;
|
||
Consulate General at Via Layetana 33, Barcelona 3, Spain (mailing
|
||
address APO NY 09286); telephone <20>34<33> (3) 319-9550
|
||
|
||
Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red
|
||
with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms
|
||
features a quartered shield; similar to the flag of Chad which does not have a
|
||
national coat of arms in the center; also similar to the flag of Romania which
|
||
has a national coat of arms featuring a mountain landscape below a red
|
||
five-pointed star and the words REPUBLICA SOCIALISTA ROMANIA at the bottom
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The mainstay of Andorra's economy is tourism. An estimated
|
||
12 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free
|
||
status and by its summer and winter resorts. Agricultural production is limited
|
||
by a scarcity of arable land, and most food has to be imported. The
|
||
principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing consists mainly of
|
||
cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. The rapid pace of European economic
|
||
integration is a potential threat to Andorra's advantages from its
|
||
duty-free status.
|
||
|
||
GNP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: NA%
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of
|
||
$NA
|
||
|
||
Exports: $0.017 million (f.o.b., 1986);
|
||
commodities--electricity; partners--France, Spain
|
||
|
||
Imports: $531 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities--NA;
|
||
partners--France, Spain
|
||
|
||
External debt: $NA
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 35,000 kW capacity; 140 million kWh produced,
|
||
2,800 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco,
|
||
smuggling, banking
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: sheep raising; small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat,
|
||
barley, oats, and some vegetables
|
||
|
||
Aid: none
|
||
|
||
Currency: French franc (plural--francs) and Spanish peseta
|
||
(plural--pesetas); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes and 1 Spanish peseta
|
||
(Pta) = 100 centimos
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.7598 (January 1990),
|
||
6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985);
|
||
Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1--109.69 (January 1990), 118.38 (1989),
|
||
116.49 (1988), 123.48 (1987), 140.05 (1986), 170.04 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 96 km
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: international digital microwave network; international
|
||
landline circuits to France and Spain; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV; 17,700
|
||
telephones
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
|
||
.pa
|
||
Angola
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 1,246,700 km2; land area: 1,246,700 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 5,198 km total; Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km,
|
||
Zaire 2,511 km, Zambia 1,110 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 1,600 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 20 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: civil war since independence on 11 November 1975
|
||
|
||
Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool,
|
||
dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
|
||
|
||
Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper,
|
||
feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
|
||
|
||
Land use: 2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 23% meadows and
|
||
pastures; 43% forest and woodland; 32% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on plateau;
|
||
desertification
|
||
|
||
Note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 8,534,483 (July 1990), growth rate 2.9% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 47 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 20 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 158 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 42 years male, 46 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Angolan(s); adjective--Angolan
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 37% Ovimbundu, 25% Kimbundu, 13% Bakongo, 2% Mestico,
|
||
1% European
|
||
|
||
Religion: 47% indigenous beliefs, 38% Roman Catholic, 15% Protestant
|
||
(est.)
|
||
|
||
Language: Portuguese (official); various Bantu dialects
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 41%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 2,783,000 economically active; 85% agriculture, 15% industry
|
||
(1985 est.)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: about 450,695 (1980)
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: People's Republic of Angola
|
||
|
||
Type: Marxist people's republic
|
||
|
||
Capital: Luanda
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (provincias,
|
||
singular--provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango,
|
||
Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte,
|
||
Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire
|
||
|
||
Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978 and 11 August 1980
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law, but
|
||
being modified along socialist lines
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, chairman of the Council of Ministers,
|
||
Council of Ministers (cabinet)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao)
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government--President Jose Eduardo dos
|
||
SANTOS (since 21 September 1979)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: only party--Popular Movement for the
|
||
Liberation of Angola-Labor Party (MPLA-Labor Party), Jose Eduardo
|
||
dos Santos; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA),
|
||
lost to the MPLA with Cuban military support in immediate postindependence
|
||
struggle, now carrying out insurgency
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal adult at age NA
|
||
|
||
Elections: none held to date
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), ICAO, IFAD, ILO,
|
||
IMO, INTELSAT, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNESCO, UNICEF, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: none
|
||
|
||
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered
|
||
yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed
|
||
by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for
|
||
80-90% of the population, but accounts for only 10-20% of GDP. Oil production
|
||
is the most lucrative sector of the economy, contributing about 50% to
|
||
GDP. In recent years, however, the impact of fighting an internal war has
|
||
severely affected the economy and food has to be imported.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $5.0 billion, per capita $600; real growth rate 9.2% (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: NA%
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues NA; expenditures $2.7 billion, including capital
|
||
expenditures of NA (1986 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities--oil, coffee,
|
||
diamonds, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton; partners--US,
|
||
USSR, Cuba, Portugal, Brazil
|
||
|
||
Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities--capital
|
||
equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), food, vehicles and spare parts,
|
||
textiles and clothing, medicines; substantial military deliveries;
|
||
partners--US, USSR, Cuba, Portugal, Brazil
|
||
|
||
External debt: $3.0 billion (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 506,000 kW capacity; 770 million kWh produced,
|
||
90 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: petroleum, mining (phosphate rock, diamonds), fish processing,
|
||
brewing, tobacco, sugar, textiles, cement, food processing, building
|
||
construction
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: cash crops--coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, sugar, manioc,
|
||
tobacco; food crops--cassava, corn, vegetables, plantains, bananas, and
|
||
other local foodstuffs; disruptions caused by civil war and marketing
|
||
deficiencies require food imports
|
||
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $263 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $903 million;
|
||
Communist countries (1970-88), $1.3 billion
|
||
|
||
Currency: kwanza (plural--kwanza); 1 kwanza (Kz) = 100 lwei
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: kwanza (Kz) per US$1--29.62 (fixed rate since 1976)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 3,189 km total; 2,879 km 1.067-meter gauge, 310 km 0.600-meter
|
||
gauge; limited trackage in use because of insurgent attacks; sections of the
|
||
Benguela Railroad closed because of insurgency
|
||
|
||
Highways: 73,828 km total; 8,577 km bituminous-surface treatment, 29,350
|
||
km crushed stone, gravel, or improved earth, remainder unimproved earth
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: crude oil, 179 km
|
||
|
||
Ports: Luanda, Lobito, Namibe, Cabinda
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
|
||
66,348 GRT/102,825 DWT; includes 11 cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants
|
||
(POL) tanker
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 27 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 317 total, 184 usable; 28 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 60 with runways
|
||
1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: fair system of wire, radio relay, and troposcatter
|
||
routes; high frequency used extensively for military/Cuban links; 40,300
|
||
telephones; stations--17 AM, 13 FM, 2 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
|
||
stations
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force/Air Defense; paramilitary
|
||
forces--People's Defense Organization and Territorial Troops, Frontier Guard,
|
||
Popular Vigilance Brigades
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 2,049,295; 1,030,868 fit for military
|
||
service; 90,877 reach military age (18) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: NA
|
||
.pa
|
||
Anguilla
|
||
(dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 91 km2; land area: 91 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: about half the size of Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 61 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 3 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
|
||
|
||
Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: negligible; salt, fish, lobsters
|
||
|
||
Land use: NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and
|
||
pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other; mostly rock with sparse
|
||
scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds
|
||
|
||
Environment: frequent hurricanes, other tropical storms (July to October)
|
||
|
||
Note: located 270 km east of Puerto Rico
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 6,883 (July 1990), growth rate 0.6% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 76 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Anguillan(s); adjective--Anguillan
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: mainly of black African descent
|
||
|
||
Religion: Anglican, Methodist, and Roman Catholic
|
||
|
||
Language: English (official)
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 80%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 2,780 (1984)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: NA
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: dependent territory of the UK
|
||
|
||
Capital: The Valley
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
|
||
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 1 April 1982
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on English common law
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief minister,
|
||
Executive Council (cabinet)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: High Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by
|
||
Governor Geoffrey O. WHITTAKER (since NA 1987);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Chief Minister Emile GUMBS (since NA March
|
||
1984, served previously from February 1977 to May 1980)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Anguilla National Alliance (ANA), Emile
|
||
Gumbs; Anguilla United Party (AUP), Ronald Webster; Anguilla Democratic Party
|
||
(ADP), Victor Banks
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
House of Assembly--last held 27 February 1989 (next to
|
||
be held February 1994);
|
||
results--percent of vote by party NA;
|
||
seats--(11 total, 7 elected) ANA 3, AUP 2, ADP 1, independent 1
|
||
|
||
Communists: none
|
||
|
||
Member of: Commonwealth
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
|
||
Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, almost triple width) and light
|
||
blue with three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design centered
|
||
in the white band
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy
|
||
depends heavily on lobster fishing, offshore banking, tourism, and
|
||
remittances from emigrants. In recent years the economy has benefited
|
||
from a boom in tourism. Development is planned to improve the
|
||
infrastructure, particularly transport and tourist facilities, and
|
||
also light industry. Improvement in the economy has reduced
|
||
unemployment from 40% in 1984 to about 5% in 1988.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $23 million, per capita $3,350 (1988 est.); real growth rate
|
||
8.2% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 5.0% (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $9.0 million; expenditures $8.8 million, including
|
||
capital expenditures of NA (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $NA; commodities--lobsters and salt; partners--NA
|
||
|
||
Imports: $NA; commodities--NA; partners --NA
|
||
|
||
External debt: $NA
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 3,000 kW capacity; 9 million kWh produced, 1,300 kWh per
|
||
capita (1988)
|
||
|
||
Industries: tourism, boat building, salt, fishing (including lobster)
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes, sheep, goats, pigs,
|
||
cattle, poultry
|
||
|
||
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
|
||
commitments (1970-87), $33 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 EC dollar
|
||
(EC$) = 100 cents
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate
|
||
since 1976)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: NA
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 60 km surfaced
|
||
|
||
Ports: Road Bay, Blowing Point
|
||
|
||
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways of 1,100 m
|
||
(Wallblake Airport)
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: modern internal telephone system; 890 telephones;
|
||
stations--3 AM, 1 FM, no TV; radio relay link to island of St. Martin
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
|
||
.pa
|
||
Antarctica
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: about 14,000,000 km2; land area: about 14,000,000 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US;
|
||
second-smallest continent (after Australia)
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: see entry on Disputes
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 17,968 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims: see entry on Disputes
|
||
|
||
Disputes: Antarctic Treaty suspends all claims; sections (some
|
||
overlapping) claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France (Adelie Land),
|
||
New Zealand (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and UK; Brazil claims
|
||
a Zone of Interest; the US and USSR do not recognize the territorial claims of
|
||
other nations and have made no claims themselves (but reserve the right to do
|
||
so); no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90o west and
|
||
150o west
|
||
|
||
Climate: severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and
|
||
distance from the ocean; East Antarctica colder than Antarctic Peninsula in
|
||
the west; warmest temperatures occur in January along the coast and average
|
||
slightly below freezing
|
||
|
||
Terrain: about 98% thick continental ice sheet, with average elevations
|
||
between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to 5,000 meters high;
|
||
ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land,
|
||
and the scientific research areas of Graham Land and Ross Island on McMurdo
|
||
Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of coastline
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: coal and iron ore; chromium, copper, gold, nickel,
|
||
platinum, and hydrocarbons have been found in small quantities along the coast;
|
||
offshore deposits of oil and gas
|
||
|
||
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
|
||
0% forest and woodland; 100% other (98% ice, 2% barren rock)
|
||
|
||
Environment: mostly uninhabitable; katabatic (gravity) winds blow
|
||
coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the
|
||
plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise around the
|
||
coast; during summer more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South
|
||
Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; in October 1987
|
||
it was reported that the ozone shield, which protects the Earth's surface
|
||
from harmful ultraviolet radiation, has dwindled to its lowest level
|
||
ever over Antarctica; subject to active volcanism (Deception Island)
|
||
|
||
Note: the coldest continent
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; staffing of research stations
|
||
varies seasonally;
|
||
|
||
Summer (January) population--3,330; Argentina 179, Australia 216,
|
||
Brazil 36, Chile 124, China 62, France 46, FRG 9, GDR 15, India 59,
|
||
Italy 121, Japan 52, NZ 251, Poland 19, South Africa 102, South
|
||
Korea 17, UK 72, Uruguay 47, US 1,250, USSR 653 (1986-87);
|
||
|
||
Winter (July) population--1,148 total; Argentina 149, Australia
|
||
82, Brazil 11, Chile 59, China 16, France 32, FRG 9, GDR 9, India 17,
|
||
Japan 37, NZ 11, Poland 19, South Africa 15, UK 61, Uruguay 10, US 242,
|
||
USSR 369 (1986-87);
|
||
|
||
Year-round stations--43 total; Argentina 7, Australia 3, Brazil 1,
|
||
Chile 3, China 1, France 1, FRG 1, GDR 1, India 1, Japan 2, NZ 1,
|
||
Poland 1, South Africa 1, South Korea 1, UK 6, Uruguay 1, US 3, USSR 8
|
||
(1986-87);
|
||
|
||
Summer only stations--26 total; Argentina 3, Australia 3, Chile 4,
|
||
Italy 1, Japan 1, NZ 2, South Africa 2, US 4, USSR 6 (1986-87)
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: The Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into
|
||
force on 23 June 1961, established, for at least 30 years, a legal framework for
|
||
peaceful use, scientific research, and suspension of territorial claims.
|
||
Administration is carried out through consultative member meetings--the 14th
|
||
and last meeting was held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in October 1987.
|
||
|
||
Consultative (voting) members include claimant nations (they claim portions of
|
||
Antarctica as national territory and some claims overlap) and nonclaimant
|
||
nations (they have made no claims to Antarctic territory, although the US and
|
||
USSR have reserved the right to do so and do not recognize the claims of
|
||
others); the year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was voted to
|
||
full consultative (voting) status, while no date indicates an original 1959
|
||
treaty signatory. Claimant nations are--Argentina, Australia, Chile, France,
|
||
New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant nations are--Belgium,
|
||
Brazil (1983), China (1985), FRG (1981), GDR (1987), India (1983), Italy (1987),
|
||
Japan, Poland (1977), South Africa, Uruguay (1985), US, and the USSR.
|
||
|
||
Acceding (nonvoting) members, with year of accession in parenthesis,
|
||
are--Austria (1987), Bulgaria (1978), Cuba (1984), Czechoslovakia (1962),
|
||
Denmark (1965), Finland (1984), Greece (1987), Hungary (1984),
|
||
Netherlands (1987), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Peru (1981),
|
||
Romania (1971), South Korea (1986), Spain (1982), and Sweden (1984).
|
||
|
||
Antarctic Treaty Summary: Article 1--area to be used for peaceful purposes only
|
||
and military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military
|
||
personnel and equipment may be used for scientific purposes; Article 2--freedom
|
||
of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3--free
|
||
exchange of information and personnel; Article 4--does not recognize, dispute,
|
||
or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the
|
||
treaty is in force; Article 5--prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of
|
||
radioactive wastes; Article 6--includes under the treaty all land and ice
|
||
shelves south of 60o 00' south, but that the water areas be covered by
|
||
international law; Article 7--treaty-state observers have free access, including
|
||
aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and
|
||
equipment; advance notice of all activities and the introduction of
|
||
military personnel must be given; Article 8--allows for jurisdiction over
|
||
observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9--frequent consultative
|
||
meetings take place among member nations and acceding nations given consultative
|
||
status; Article 10--treaty states will discourage activities by any country in
|
||
Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11--disputes to be settled
|
||
peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13,
|
||
14--deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved
|
||
nations.
|
||
|
||
Other agreements: Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living
|
||
Resources; Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals; a mineral
|
||
resources agreement is currently undergoing ratification by the Antarctic Treaty
|
||
consultative parties
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: No economic activity at present except for fishing off
|
||
the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad. Exploitation of
|
||
mineral resources will be held back by technical difficulties, high
|
||
costs, and objections by environmentalists.
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Airports: 39 total; 25 usable; none with permanent surface runways;
|
||
3 with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with
|
||
runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: none; Article 7 of the Antarctic Treaty states that advance notice
|
||
of all activities and the introduction of military personnel must be given
|
||
.pa
|
||
Antigua and Barbuda
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 440 km2; land area: 440 km2; includes Redonda
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 153 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Contiguous zone: 24 nm;
|
||
|
||
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some higher
|
||
volcanic areas
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: negligible; pleasant climate fosters
|
||
tourism
|
||
|
||
Land use: 18% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 7% meadows and
|
||
pastures; 16% forest and woodland; 59% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October);
|
||
insufficient freshwater resources; deeply indented coastline provides many
|
||
natural harbors
|
||
|
||
Note: 420 km east-southeast of Puerto Rico
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 63,726 (July 1990), growth rate 0.3% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 74 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Antiguan(s); adjective--Antiguan
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: almost entirely of black African origin; some of
|
||
British, Portuguese, Lebanese, and Syrian origin
|
||
|
||
Religion: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some Roman
|
||
Catholic
|
||
|
||
Language: English (official), local dialects
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 90% (est.)
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 30,000; 82% commerce and services, 11% agriculture,
|
||
7% industry (1983)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association
|
||
(ABPSA), membership 500; Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), 10,000 members;
|
||
Antigua Workers Union (AWU), 10,000 members (1986 est.)
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: parliamentary democracy
|
||
|
||
Capital: Saint John's
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*,
|
||
Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter,
|
||
Saint Philip
|
||
|
||
Independence: 1 November 1981 (from UK)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 1 November 1981
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on English common law
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister,
|
||
deputy prime minister, Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or
|
||
Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
|
||
represented by Governor General Sir Wilfred Ebenezer JACOBS (since 1 November
|
||
1981, previously Governor since 1976);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Prime Minister Vere Cornwall BIRD, Sr. (since NA
|
||
1976); Deputy Prime Minister Lester BIRD (since NA 1976)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Vere C. Bird,
|
||
Sr., Lester Bird; United National Democratic Party (UNDP), Dr. Ivor Heath
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
House of Representatives--last held 9 March 1989 (next to be
|
||
held 1994);
|
||
results--percentage of vote by party NA;
|
||
seats--(17 total) ALP 15, UNDP 1, independent 1
|
||
|
||
Communists: negligible
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement
|
||
(ACLM), a small leftist nationalist group led by Leonard (Tim) Hector;
|
||
Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), headed by Noel Thomas
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, CARICOM, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMF,
|
||
ISO, OAS, UN, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Edmund Hawkins LAKE;
|
||
Chancery at Suite 2H, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008;
|
||
telephone (202) 362-5211 or 5166, 5122, 5225; there is an Antiguan Consulate
|
||
in Miami;
|
||
US--the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda,
|
||
and in his absence, the Embassy is headed by Charge d'Affaires
|
||
Roger R. GAMBLE; Embassy at Queen Elizabeth Highway, Saint John's
|
||
(mailing address is FPO Miami 34054); telephone (809) 462-3505 or 3506
|
||
|
||
Flag: red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the
|
||
flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue,
|
||
and white with a yellow rising sun in the black band
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The economy is primarily service oriented, with tourism the
|
||
most important determinant of economic performance. During the period
|
||
1983-87, real GDP expanded at an annual average rate of 8%. Tourism's
|
||
contribution to GDP, as measured by value added in hotels and restaurants, rose
|
||
from about 14% in 1983 to 17% in 1987, and stimulated growth in other
|
||
sectors--particularly in construction, communications, and public utilities.
|
||
During the same period the combined share of agriculture and manufacturing
|
||
declined from 12% to less than 10%. Antigua and Barbuda is one of the few areas
|
||
in the Caribbean experiencing a labor shortage in some sectors of the economy.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $353.5 million, per capita $5,550; real growth rate 6.2% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.1% (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 5.0% (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $77 million; expenditures $81 million,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $13 million (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $30.4 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.);
|
||
commodities--petroleum products 46%, manufactures 29%, food and live
|
||
animals 14%, machinery and transport equipment 11%; partners--Trinidad
|
||
and Tobago 40%, Barbados 8%, US 0.3%
|
||
|
||
Imports: $302.1 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities--food and
|
||
live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals,
|
||
oil; partners--US 27%, UK 14%, CARICOM 7%, Canada 4%, other 48%
|
||
|
||
External debt: $245.4 million (1987)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 10% (1987)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 49,000 kW capacity; 90 million kWh produced, 1,410 kWh
|
||
per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing,
|
||
alcohol, household appliances)
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; expanding output of cotton,
|
||
fruits, vegetables, and livestock sector; other crops--bananas, coconuts,
|
||
cucumbers, mangoes; not self-sufficient in food
|
||
|
||
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
|
||
(1970-87), $40 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 EC dollar
|
||
(EC$) = 100 cents
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate
|
||
since 1976)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 64 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge and 13 km 0.610-meter gauge
|
||
used almost exclusively for handling sugarcane
|
||
|
||
Highways: 240 km
|
||
|
||
Ports: St. John's
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 80 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 307,315
|
||
GRT/501,552 DWT; includes 50 cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo, 8 container,
|
||
8 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
|
||
5 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 1 short-sea passenger; note--a flag of
|
||
convenience registry
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 10 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with
|
||
runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways less than 2,440 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: good automatic telephone system; 6,700 telephones;
|
||
tropospheric scatter links with Saba and Guadeloupe; stations--4 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV,
|
||
2 shortwave; 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua
|
||
and Barbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard)
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: NA
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: NA
|
||
.pa
|
||
Arctic Ocean
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 14,056,000 km2; includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea,
|
||
Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay,
|
||
Hudson Strait, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, and other tributary water bodies
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of the US;
|
||
smallest of the world's four oceans (after Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean,
|
||
and Indian Ocean)
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 45,389 km
|
||
|
||
Climate: persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature ranges;
|
||
winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather
|
||
conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight,
|
||
damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow
|
||
|
||
Terrain: central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack
|
||
which averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure ridges may be
|
||
three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream,
|
||
but nearly straight line movement from the New Siberian Islands (USSR) to
|
||
Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the ice pack is surrounded by
|
||
open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter
|
||
and extends to the encircling land masses; the ocean floor is about 50%
|
||
continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a
|
||
central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen
|
||
Cordillera, and Lomonsov Ridge); maximum depth is 4,665 meters in the Fram Basin
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,
|
||
polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals, whales)
|
||
|
||
Environment: endangered marine species include walruses and whales; ice
|
||
islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved
|
||
from western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; maximum snow cover in
|
||
March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean and lasts about
|
||
10 months; permafrost in islands; virtually icelocked from October to June;
|
||
fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage
|
||
|
||
Note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern
|
||
access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); ships subject to
|
||
superstructure icing from October to May; strategic location between North
|
||
America and the USSR; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and
|
||
western USSR; floating research stations operated by the US and USSR
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural
|
||
resources, including crude oil, natural gas, fishing, and sealing.
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Ports: Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (USSR), Prudhoe Bay (US)
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: no submarine cables
|
||
|
||
Note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest
|
||
Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Asia) are important waterways
|
||
.pa
|
||
Argentina
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 2,766,890 km2; land area: 2,736,690 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Texas
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 9,665 km total; Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km,
|
||
Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 4,989 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 200 nm (overflight and navigation permitted beyond
|
||
12 nm)
|
||
|
||
Disputes: short section of the boundary with Uruguay is in dispute; short
|
||
section of the boundary with Chile is indefinite; claims British-administered
|
||
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims British-administered South Georgia and
|
||
the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica
|
||
|
||
Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
|
||
|
||
Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling
|
||
plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc,
|
||
tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, crude oil, uranium
|
||
|
||
Land use: 9% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 52% meadows and pastures;
|
||
22% forest and woodland; 13% other; includes 1% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: Tucuman and Mendoza areas in Andes subject to earthquakes;
|
||
pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike Pampas and northeast; irrigated
|
||
soil degradation; desertification; air and water pollution in
|
||
Buenos Aires
|
||
|
||
Note: second-largest country in South America (after Brazil);
|
||
strategic location relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic and
|
||
South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage)
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 32,290,966 (July 1990), growth rate 1.2% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 32 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 74 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 2.8 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Argentine(s); adjective--Argentine
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 85% white, 15% mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhite groups
|
||
|
||
Religion: 90% nominally Roman Catholic (less than 20% practicing), 2%
|
||
Protestant, 2% Jewish, 6% other
|
||
|
||
Language: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 94%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 10,900,000; 12% agriculture, 31% industry, 57% services
|
||
(1985 est.)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 3,000,000; 28% of labor force
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Argentine Republic
|
||
|
||
Type: republic
|
||
|
||
Capital: Buenos Aires (tentative plans to move to Viedma by
|
||
1990 indefinitely postponed)
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 22 provinces (provincias, singular--provincia),
|
||
1 national territory* (territorio nacional), and 1 district** (distrito);
|
||
Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes,
|
||
Distrito Federal**, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza,
|
||
Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz,
|
||
Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego and Antartida e Islas del
|
||
Atlantico Sur*, Tucuman
|
||
|
||
Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 1 May 1853
|
||
|
||
Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not
|
||
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: National Day, 25 May (1810)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
|
||
consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or
|
||
Chamber of Deputies (Camera de Diputados)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government--President Carlos Saul MENEM
|
||
(since 8 July 1989); Vice President Eduardo DUHALDE (since 8 July 1989)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders:
|
||
Justicialist Party (JP), Antonio Cafiero, Peronist umbrella political
|
||
organization; Radical Civic Union (UCR), Raul Alfonsin, moderately
|
||
left of center; Union of the Democratic Center (UCEDE), Alvaro
|
||
Alsogaray, conservative party; Intransigent Party (PI), Dr. Oscar
|
||
Alende, leftist party; several provincial parties
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held 14 May 1989 (next to be held May 1995);
|
||
results--Carlos Saul Menem was elected;
|
||
|
||
Chamber of Deputies--last held 14 May 1989 (next to be
|
||
held May 1991); results--JP 47%, UCR 30%, UDC 7%, other 16%;
|
||
seats--(254 total); JP 122, UCR 93, UDC 11, other 28
|
||
|
||
Communists: some 70,000 members in various party organizations, including
|
||
a small nucleus of activists
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Peronist-dominated labor movement,
|
||
General Confederation of Labor (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor
|
||
organization), Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association),
|
||
Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association), business
|
||
organizations, students, the Roman Catholic Church, the Armed Forces
|
||
|
||
Member of: CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT, Group of Eight, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC,
|
||
ICAO, IDA, IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
|
||
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOOC, ISO, ITU, IWC--International Whaling Commission,
|
||
IWC--International Wheat Council, LAIA, NAM, OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU,
|
||
WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO, WSG
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Guido Jose Maria DI TELLA;
|
||
Chancery at 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone
|
||
202) 939-6400 through 6403; there are Argentine Consulates General in
|
||
Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto
|
||
Rico), and Consulates in Baltimore, Chicago, and Los Angeles;
|
||
US--Ambassador Terence A. TODMAN; Embassy at 4300 Colombia,
|
||
1425 Buenos Aires (mailing address is APO Miami 34034);
|
||
telephone <20>54<35> (1) 774-7611 or 8811, 9911
|
||
|
||
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light
|
||
blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known
|
||
as the Sun of May
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Argentina is rich in natural resources, and has a highly
|
||
literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a
|
||
diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, the economy has encountered
|
||
major problems in recent years, leading to a recession in 1988-89.
|
||
Economic growth slowed to 2.0% in 1987 and to - 1.8% in 1988; a sharp
|
||
decline of - 5.5% has been estimated for 1989. A widening public-sector
|
||
deficit and a multidigit inflation rate has dominated the
|
||
economy over the past three years, reaching about 5,000% in 1989.
|
||
Since 1978, Argentina's external debt has nearly doubled to $60
|
||
billion, creating severe debt-servicing difficulties and hurting
|
||
the country's creditworthiness with international lenders.
|
||
|
||
GNP: $72.0 billion, per capita $2,217; real growth rate - 5.5%
|
||
(1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4,925% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 8.5% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $11.5 billion; expenditures $13.0 billion,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $0.93 billion (1988)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $9.6 billion (f.o.b., 1989);
|
||
commodities--meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, hides, wool;
|
||
partners--US 14%, USSR, Italy, Brazil, Japan, Netherlands
|
||
|
||
Imports: $4.3 billion (c.i.f., 1989);
|
||
commodities--machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and
|
||
lubricants, agricultural products;
|
||
partners--US 25%, Brazil, FRG, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands
|
||
|
||
External debt: $60 billion (December 1989)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate - 8% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 16,449,000 kW capacity; 46,590 million kWh produced,
|
||
1,460 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: food processing (especially meat packing), motor vehicles,
|
||
consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing,
|
||
metallurgy, steel
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GNP (including fishing); produces
|
||
abundant food for both domestic consumption and exports; among world's
|
||
top five exporters of grain and beef; principal crops--wheat, corn, sorghum,
|
||
soybeans, sugar beets; 1987 fish catch estimated at 500,000 tons
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $1.0 billion; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $3.6 billion;
|
||
Communist countries (1970-88), $718 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: austral (plural--australes); 1 austral (A) = 100 centavos
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: australes (A) per US$1--1,930 (December
|
||
1989), 8.7526 (1988), 2.1443 (1987), 0.9430 (1986), 0.6018 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 34,172 km total (includes 169 km electrified); includes a
|
||
mixture of 1.435-meter standard gauge, 1.676-meter broad gauge, 1.000-meter
|
||
gauge, and 0.750-meter gauge
|
||
|
||
Highways: 208,350 km total; 47,550 km paved, 39,500 km gravel,
|
||
101,000 km improved earth, 20,300 km unimproved earth
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 11,000 km navigable
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: 4,090 km crude oil; 2,900 km refined products; 9,918 km
|
||
natural gas
|
||
|
||
Ports: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario,
|
||
Santa Fe
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,693,540
|
||
GRT/2,707,079 DWT; includes 45 cargo, 6 refrigerated cargo, 6 container,
|
||
1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 railcar carrier, 48 petroleum, oils, and lubricants
|
||
(POL) tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 4 liquefied gas, 18 bulk
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 54 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 1,799 total, 1,617 usable; 132 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 30 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 335 with runways
|
||
1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: extensive modern system; 2,650,000 telephones
|
||
(12,000 public telephones); radio relay widely used; stations--171 AM, no FM,
|
||
231 TV, 13 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; domestic
|
||
satellite network has 40 stations
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine Air
|
||
Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture, National Aeronautical
|
||
Police Force
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 7,860,054; 6,372,189 fit for military
|
||
service; 277,144 reach military age (20) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 1.4% of GNP (1987)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Aruba
|
||
(part of the Dutch realm)
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 193 km2; land area: 193 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 68.5 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
|
||
|
||
Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: negligible; white sandy beaches
|
||
|
||
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
|
||
0% forest and woodland; 100% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
|
||
|
||
Note: 28 km north of Venezuela
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 62,656 (July 1990), growth rate 0.2% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 16 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: - 8 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 80 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Aruban(s); adjective--Aruban
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 80% mixed European/Caribbean Indian
|
||
|
||
Religion: 82% Roman Catholic, 8% Protestant; also small Hindu, Muslim,
|
||
Confucian, and Jewish minority
|
||
|
||
Language: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch,
|
||
English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 95%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: NA, but most employment is in the tourist industry (1986)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: Aruban Workers' Federation (FTA)
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: part of the Dutch realm--full autonomy in internal affairs obtained
|
||
in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles
|
||
|
||
Capital: Oranjestad
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
|
||
|
||
Independence: planned for 1996
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 1 January 1986
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English
|
||
common law influence
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, Council of
|
||
Ministers (cabinet)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Staten)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980),
|
||
represented by Governor General Felipe B. TROMP (since 1 January 1986);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since NA February 1989)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party (MEP),
|
||
Nelson Oduber; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Henny Eman; National
|
||
Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro Kelly; New Patriotic Party (PPN),
|
||
Eddy Werlemen; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny Nisbet; Aruban Democratic
|
||
Party (PDA), Leo Berlinski; Democratic Action '86 (AD'86), Arturo
|
||
Oduber; governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
Parliament--last held 6 January 1989 (next to be held by January
|
||
1993);
|
||
results--percent of vote by party NA;
|
||
seats--(21 total) MEP 10, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPN 1, PPA 1
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
|
||
|
||
Flag: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower
|
||
portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side
|
||
corner
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the economy. In 1985 the economy
|
||
suffered a severe blow when Exxon closed its refinery, a major source of
|
||
employment and foreign exchange earnings. Economic collapse was prevented
|
||
by soft loans from the Dutch Government and by a booming tourist industry.
|
||
Hotel capacity expanded by 20% between 1985 and 1987 and is projected to more
|
||
than double by 1990. Unemployment has steadily declined from about 20% in
|
||
1986 to about 3% in 1988.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $620 million, per capita $10,000; real growth rate 16.7%
|
||
(1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 3% (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $145 million; expenditures $185 million, including
|
||
capital expenditures of $42 million (1988)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $47.5 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.);
|
||
commodities--mostly petroleum products;
|
||
partners--US 64%, EC
|
||
|
||
Imports: $296.0 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.);
|
||
commodities--food, consumer goods, manufactures;
|
||
partners--US 8%, EC
|
||
|
||
External debt: $81 million (1987)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate - 20% (1984)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 310,000 kW capacity; 945 million kWh produced, 15,120
|
||
kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural
|
||
activity to the cultivation of aloes
|
||
|
||
Aid: none
|
||
|
||
Currency: Aruban florin (plural--florins);
|
||
1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1--1.7900 (fixed rate since
|
||
1986)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Ports: Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
|
||
|
||
Airfield: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: generally adequate; extensive interisland radio relay
|
||
links; 72,168 telephones; stations--4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 1 sea cable to St. Maarten
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands until 1996
|
||
.pa
|
||
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
|
||
(territory of Australia)
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 5 km2; land area: 5 km2; includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle,
|
||
and East Islets) and Cartier Island
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 74.1 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploration;
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 3 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical
|
||
|
||
Terrain: low with sand and coral
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: fish
|
||
|
||
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and
|
||
pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other--grass and sand
|
||
|
||
Environment: surrounded by shoals and reefs; Ashmore Reef National
|
||
Nature Reserve established in August 1983
|
||
|
||
Note: located in extreme eastern Indian Ocean between Australia
|
||
and Indonesia 320 km off the northwest coast of Australia
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: no permanent inhabitants; seasonal caretakers
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
|
||
|
||
Type: territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry
|
||
for Territories and Local Government
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
|
||
|
||
Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
|
||
|
||
Note: administered by the Australian Minister for Arts, Sports, the
|
||
Environment, Tourism, and Territories Graham Richardson
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: no economic activity
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic
|
||
visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
|
||
.pa
|
||
Atlantic Ocean
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 82,217,000 km2; includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea,
|
||
Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea,
|
||
North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodies
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly less than nine times the size of the US;
|
||
second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger
|
||
than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 111,866 km
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa
|
||
near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur
|
||
from May to December, but are most frequent from August to November
|
||
|
||
Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark
|
||
Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm water gyre (broad,
|
||
circular system of currents) in the north Atlantic, counterclockwise warm water
|
||
gyre in the south Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic
|
||
Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin;
|
||
maximum depth is 8,605 meters in the Puerto Rico Trench
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and
|
||
whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules,
|
||
precious stones
|
||
|
||
Environment: endangered marine species include the manatee, seals,
|
||
sea lions, turtles, and whales; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US,
|
||
southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea,
|
||
Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial
|
||
waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and
|
||
Mediterranean Sea; icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the
|
||
northwestern Atlantic from February to August and have been spotted as far
|
||
south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; icebergs from Antarctica occur
|
||
in the extreme southern Atlantic
|
||
|
||
Note: ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north Atlantic
|
||
from October to May and extreme south Atlantic from May to October; persistent
|
||
fog can be a hazard to shipping from May to September; major choke points
|
||
include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez
|
||
Canals; strategic straits include the Dover Strait, Straits of Florida,
|
||
Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; north Atlantic
|
||
shipping lanes subject to icebergs from February to August; the Equator
|
||
divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic
|
||
Ocean
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Economic activity is limited to exploitation of natural
|
||
resources, especially fish, dredging aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and
|
||
crude oil and natural gas production (Caribbean Sea and North Sea).
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Ports: Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium),
|
||
Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco),
|
||
Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland),
|
||
Hamburg (FRG), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain),
|
||
Le Havre (France), Leningrad (USSR), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK),
|
||
Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy),
|
||
New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway),
|
||
Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands),
|
||
Stockholm (Sweden)
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: numerous submarine cables with most between
|
||
continental Europe and the UK, North America and the UK, and in the
|
||
Mediterranean; numerous direct links across Atlantic via INTELSAT
|
||
satellite network
|
||
|
||
Note: Kiel Canal and St. Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways
|
||
.pa
|
||
Australia
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 7,686,850 km2; land area: 7,617,930 km2; includes
|
||
Macquarie Island
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly smaller than the US
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 25,760 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 3 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory)
|
||
|
||
Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;
|
||
tropical in north
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium,
|
||
nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas,
|
||
crude oil
|
||
|
||
Land use: 6% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 58% meadows and
|
||
pastures; 14% forest and woodland; 22% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: subject to severe droughts and floods; cyclones along coast;
|
||
limited freshwater availability; irrigated soil degradation; regular, tropical,
|
||
invigorating, sea breeze known as the doctor occurs along west coast in summer;
|
||
desertification
|
||
|
||
Note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 16,923,478 (July 1990), growth rate 1.3% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 6 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Australian(s); adjective--Australian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 95% Caucasian, 4% Asian, 1% Aboriginal and other
|
||
|
||
Religion: 26.1% Anglican, 26.0% Roman Catholic, 24.3% other Christian
|
||
|
||
Language: English, native languages
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 98.5%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 7,700,000; 33.8% finance and services, 22.3% public and
|
||
community services, 20.1% wholesale and retail trade, 16.2% manufacturing and
|
||
industry, 6.1% agriculture (1987)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 42% of labor force (1988)
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Commonwealth of Australia
|
||
|
||
Type: federal parliamentary state
|
||
|
||
Capital: Canberra
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian
|
||
Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland,
|
||
South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
|
||
|
||
Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island,
|
||
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald
|
||
Islands, Norfolk Island
|
||
|
||
Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
|
||
jurisdiction, with reservations
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Australia Day (last Monday in January), 29 January 1990
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister,
|
||
deputy prime minister, Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of an upper
|
||
house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: High Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 1952),
|
||
represented by Governor General William George HAYDEN (since NA February 1989);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Prime Minister Robert James Lee HAWKE (since
|
||
11 March 1983); Deputy Prime Minister Paul KEATING (since 3 April 1990)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: government--Australian Labor
|
||
Party, Robert Hawke; opposition--Liberal Party, Andrew Peacock;
|
||
National Party, Charles Blunt; Australian Democratic Party, Janine Haines
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
Senate--last held 11 July 1987 (next to be held by 12 May 1990);
|
||
results--Labor 43%, Liberal-National 42%, Australian Democrats 8%,
|
||
independents 2%;
|
||
seats--(76 total) Labor 32, Liberal-National 34, Australian
|
||
Democrats 7, independents 3;
|
||
|
||
House of Representatives--last held 24 March 1990 (next to be
|
||
held by November 1993);
|
||
results--Labor 39.7%, Liberal-National 43%, Australian Democrats
|
||
and independents 11.1%;
|
||
seats--(148 total) Labor 78, Liberal-National 69, independent 1
|
||
|
||
Communists: 4,000 members (est.)
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Australian Democratic Labor Party
|
||
(anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament
|
||
Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)
|
||
|
||
Member of: ADB, AIOEC, ANZUS, CCC, CIPEC (associate), Colombo Plan,
|
||
Commonwealth, DAC, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IATP, IBA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO,
|
||
ICO, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOOC,
|
||
IPU, IRC, ISO, ITC, ITU, IWC--International Whaling Commission,
|
||
IWC--International Wheat Council, OECD, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
|
||
WSG
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Michael J. COOK; Chancery at
|
||
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202) 797-3000;
|
||
there are Australian Consulates General in Chicago, Honolulu, Houston,
|
||
Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco;
|
||
US--Ambassador Melvin F. SEMBLER; Moonah Place, Yarralumla,
|
||
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 (mailing address is APO San
|
||
Francisco 6404);
|
||
telephone <20>61<36> (62) 705000; there are US Consulates General in Melbourne, Perth,
|
||
and Sydney, and a Consulate in Brisbane
|
||
|
||
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a
|
||
large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is
|
||
a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small
|
||
five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy,
|
||
with a per capita GNP comparable to levels in
|
||
industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural resources,
|
||
Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and
|
||
fossil fuels. Of the top 25 exports, 21 are primary products, so that,
|
||
as happened during 1983-84, a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big
|
||
impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports
|
||
of manufactured goods but competition in international markets will be severe.
|
||
|
||
GNP: $240.8 billion, per capita $14,300; real growth rate 4.1%
|
||
(1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.0% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 6.0% (December 1989)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $76.3 billion; expenditures $69.1 billion, including
|
||
capital expenditures of NA (FY90 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $43.2 billion (f.o.b., FY89);
|
||
commodities--wheat, barley, beef, lamb, dairy products, wool, coal,
|
||
iron ore;
|
||
partners--Japan 26%, US 11%, NZ 6%, South Korea 4%, Singapore 4%,
|
||
USSR 3%
|
||
|
||
Imports: $48.6 billion (c.i.f., FY89);
|
||
commodities--manufactured raw materials, capital equipment, consumer
|
||
goods;
|
||
partners--US 22%, Japan 22%, UK 7%, FRG 6%, NZ 4% (1984)
|
||
|
||
External debt: $111.6 billion (September 1989)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 5.6% (FY88)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 38,000,000 kW capacity; 139,000 million kWh produced,
|
||
8,450 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food
|
||
processing, chemicals, steel, motor vehicles
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GNP and 37% of export revenues;
|
||
world's largest exporter of beef and wool, second-largest for mutton,
|
||
and among top wheat exporters; major crops--wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruit;
|
||
livestock--cattle, sheep, poultry
|
||
|
||
Aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-87), $8.8 billion
|
||
|
||
Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Australian dollar
|
||
($A) = 100 cents
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2784 (January 1990),
|
||
1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 40,478 km total; 7,970 km 1.600-meter gauge, 16,201 km
|
||
1.435-meter standard gauge, 16,307 km 1.067-meter gauge; 183 km dual gauge;
|
||
1,130 km electrified; government owned (except for a few hundred kilometers of
|
||
privately owned track) (1985)
|
||
|
||
Highways: 837,872 km total; 243,750 km paved, 228,396 km gravel,
|
||
crushed stone, or stabilized soil surface, 365,726 km unimproved earth
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: crude oil, 2,500 km; refined products, 500 km; natural gas,
|
||
5,600 km
|
||
|
||
Ports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle, Geelong,
|
||
Hobart, Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 77 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,300,049
|
||
GRT/3,493,802 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 7 cargo, 5 container,
|
||
10 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 17 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
|
||
2 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 1 combination ore/oil, 1 livestock carrier,
|
||
29 bulk
|
||
|
||
Civil air: around 150 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 564 total, 524 usable; 235 with permanent-surface runways,
|
||
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 311 with runways
|
||
1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: good international and domestic service; 8.7
|
||
million telephones; stations--258 AM, 67 FM, 134 TV; submarine cables to
|
||
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; domestic satellite service;
|
||
satellite stations--4 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 6 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth
|
||
stations
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air
|
||
Force
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 4,588,750; 4,009,127 fit for military
|
||
service; 136,042 reach military age (17) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: NA
|
||
.pa
|
||
Austria
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 83,850 km2; land area: 82,730 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 2,640 km total; Czechoslovakia 548 km, Hungary 366 km,
|
||
Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Switzerland 164 km, FRG 784 km,
|
||
Yugoslavia 311 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Disputes: South Tyrol question with Italy
|
||
|
||
Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain
|
||
in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly mountains with Alps in west and south; mostly flat, with
|
||
gentle slopes along eastern and northern margins
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: iron ore, crude oil, timber, magnesite, aluminum,
|
||
lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower
|
||
|
||
Land use: 17% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 24% meadows and pastures;
|
||
39% forest and woodland; 19% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: because of steep slopes, poor soils, and cold temperatures,
|
||
population is concentrated on eastern lowlands
|
||
|
||
Note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of
|
||
central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys;
|
||
major river is the Danube
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 7,644,275 (July 1990), growth rate 0.3% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Austrian(s); adjective--Austrian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 99.4% German, 0.3% Croatian, 0.2% Slovene, 0.1% other
|
||
|
||
Religion: 85% Roman Catholic, 6% Protestant, 9% other
|
||
|
||
Language: German
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 98%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 3,037,000; 56.4% services, 35.4% industry and crafts,
|
||
8.1% agriculture and forestry; an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in
|
||
other European countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about
|
||
6% of labor force (1988)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 1,672,820 members of Austrian Trade Union Federation
|
||
(1984)
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Republic of Austria
|
||
|
||
Type: federal republic
|
||
|
||
Capital: Vienna
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslander, singular--bundesland);
|
||
Burgenland, Karnten, Niederosterreich, Oberosterreich, Salzburg,
|
||
Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
|
||
|
||
Independence: 12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 1920, revised 1929 (reinstated 1945)
|
||
|
||
Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of
|
||
legislative acts by a Constitutional Court; separate administrative and
|
||
civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, chancellor, vice chancellor, Council of
|
||
Ministers (cabinet)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung)
|
||
consists of an upper council or Federal Council (Bundesrat) and a lower council
|
||
or National Council (Nationalrat)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for civil
|
||
and criminal cases, Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for
|
||
bureaucratic cases, Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for
|
||
constitutional cases
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--President Kurt WALDHEIM (since 8 July 1986);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986);
|
||
Vice Chancellor Josef RIEGLER (since 19 May 1989)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party of Austria (SPO),
|
||
Franz Vranitzky, chairman; Austrian People's Party (OVP), Josef
|
||
Riegler, chairman; Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), Jorg Haider,
|
||
chairman; Communist Party (KPO), Franz Muhri, chairman; Green
|
||
Alternative List (GAL), Andreas Wabl, chairman
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 19; compulsory for presidential elections
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held 8 June 1986 (next to be held May 1992);
|
||
results of Second Ballot--Dr. Kurt Waldheim 53.89%, Dr. Kurt Steyrer
|
||
46.11%;
|
||
|
||
Federal Council--last held 23 November 1986 (next to be
|
||
held November 1990);
|
||
results--percent of vote by party NA;
|
||
seats--(63 total) OVP 32, SPO 30, FPO 1;
|
||
|
||
National Council--last held 23 November 1986 (next to be
|
||
held November 1990);
|
||
results--SP0 43.1%, OVP 41.3%, FPO 9.7%, GAL 4.8%, KPO 0.7%,
|
||
other 0.32%;
|
||
seats--(183 total) SP0 80, OVP 77, FP0 18, GAL 8
|
||
|
||
Communists: membership 15,000 est.; activists 7,000-8,000
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Federal Chamber of Commerce and
|
||
Industry; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist); three
|
||
composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party (OVP) representing
|
||
business, labor, and farmers; OVP-oriented League of Austrian
|
||
Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization,
|
||
Catholic Action
|
||
|
||
Member of: ADB, Council of Europe, CCC, DAC, ECE, EFTA, ESA,
|
||
FAO, GATT, IAEA, IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IBRD, ICAC,
|
||
ICAO, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU,
|
||
IWC--International Wheat Council, OECD, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
|
||
WMO, WTO, WSG; Austria is neutral and is not a member of NATO or the EC
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Friedrich HOESS; Embassy at
|
||
2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-4474;
|
||
there are Austrian Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York;
|
||
US--Ambassador Henry A. GRUNWALD; Embassy at Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091,
|
||
Vienna (mailing address is APO New York 09108); telephone <20>43<34> (222) 31-55-11;
|
||
there is a US Consulate General in Salzburg
|
||
|
||
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Austria boasts a prosperous and stable capitalist
|
||
economy with a sizable proportion of nationalized industry and extensive
|
||
welfare benefits. Thanks to an excellent raw material endowment, a
|
||
technically skilled labor force, and strong links with West German
|
||
industrial firms, Austria has successfully occupied specialized niches
|
||
in European industry and services (tourism, banking) and produces almost
|
||
enough food to feed itself with only 8% of the labor force in
|
||
agriculture. Living standards are roughly comparable with the large
|
||
industrial countries of Western Europe. Problems for the l990s include
|
||
an aging population and the struggle to keep welfare benefits within
|
||
budget capabilities.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $103.2 billion, per capita $13,600; real growth rate 4.2%
|
||
(1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment: 4.8% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $34.2 billion; expenditures $39.5 billion,
|
||
including capital expenditures of NA (1988)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $31.2 billion (f.o.b., 1989);
|
||
commodities--machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber, textiles,
|
||
paper products, chemicals;
|
||
partners--FRG 35%, Italy 10%, Eastern Europe 9%, Switzerland 7%, US 4%,
|
||
OPEC 3%
|
||
|
||
Imports: $37.9 billion (c.i.f., 1989);
|
||
commodities--petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles,
|
||
chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals;
|
||
partners--FRG 44%, Italy 9%, Eastern Europe 6%, Switzerland 5%, US 4%,
|
||
USSR 2%
|
||
|
||
External debt: $12.4 billion (December 1987)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 5.8% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 17,562,000 kW capacity; 49,290 million kWh produced,
|
||
6,500 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: foods, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals,
|
||
electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP (including forestry);
|
||
principal crops and animals--grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets,
|
||
sawn wood, cattle, pigs poultry; 80-90% self-sufficient in food
|
||
|
||
Aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-87), $1.7 billion
|
||
|
||
Currency: Austrian schilling (plural--schillings); 1 Austrian
|
||
schilling (S) = 100 groschen
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (S) per US$1--11.907 (January 1990),
|
||
13.231 (1989), 12.348 (1988), 12.643 (1987), 15.267 (1986), 20.690 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 6,028 km total; 5,388 km government owned and 640 km privately
|
||
owned (1.435- and 1.000-meter gauge); 5,403 km 1.435-meter standard gauge of
|
||
which 3,051 km is electrified and 1,520 km is double tracked; 363 km 0.760-meter
|
||
narrow gauge of which 91 km is electrified
|
||
|
||
Highways: 95,412 km total; 34,612 are the primary network (including
|
||
1,012 km of autobahn, 10,400 km of federal, and 23,200 km of provincial roads);
|
||
of this number, 21,812 km are paved and 12,800 km are unpaved; in addition,
|
||
there are 60,800 km of communal roads (mostly gravel, crushed stone, earth)
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 446 km
|
||
|
||
Ports: Vienna, Linz (river ports)
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
|
||
209,311 GRT/366,401 DWT; includes 23 cargo, 1 container, 5 bulk
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: 554 km crude oil; 2,611 km natural gas; 171 km refined
|
||
products
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 25 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 55 total, 54 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with
|
||
runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: highly developed and efficient; 4,014,000
|
||
telephones; extensive TV and radiobroadcast systems; stations--6 AM, 21 (544
|
||
repeaters) FM, 47 (867 repeaters) TV; satellite stations operating in INTELSAT
|
||
1 Atlantic Ocean earth station and 1 Indian Ocean earth station and EUTELSAT
|
||
systems
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army, Flying Division
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,970,189; 1,656,228 fit for military
|
||
service; 50,090 reach military age (19) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 1.1% of GDP, or $1.1 billion (1989 est.)
|
||
.pa
|
||
The Bahamas
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 13,940 km2; land area: 10,070 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 3,542 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 3 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
|
||
|
||
Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber
|
||
|
||
Land use: 1% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; NEGL% meadows
|
||
and pastures; 32% forest and woodland; 67% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms
|
||
that cause extensive flood damage
|
||
|
||
Note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island
|
||
chain
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 246,491 (July 1990), growth rate 1.2% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 75 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Bahamian(s); adjective--Bahamian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 85% black, 15% white
|
||
|
||
Religion: Baptist 29%, Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 22%, smaller groups
|
||
of other Protestants, Greek Orthodox, and Jews
|
||
|
||
Language: English; some Creole among Haitian immigrants
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 95% (1986)
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 132,600; 30% government, 25% hotels and restaurants,
|
||
10% business services, 5% agriculture (1986)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 25% of labor force
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: The Commonwealth of The Bahamas
|
||
|
||
Type: commonwealth
|
||
|
||
Capital: Nassau
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 21 districts; Abaco, Acklins Island,
|
||
Andros Island, Berry Islands, Biminis, Cat Island, Cay Lobos, Crooked Island,
|
||
Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Harbour Island, Inagua, Long Cay, Long Island,
|
||
Mayaguana, New Providence, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, Spanish Wells
|
||
|
||
Independence: 10 July 1973 (from UK)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 10 July 1973
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on English common law
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister,
|
||
deputy prime minister, Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or
|
||
Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
|
||
represented by Acting Governor General Sir Henry TAYLOR (since 26 June 1988);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Prime Minister Sir Lynden Oscar PINDLING (since
|
||
16 January 1967)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP),
|
||
Sir Lynden O. Pindling; Free National Movement (FNM), Cecil Wallace-Whitfield
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
House of Assembly--last held 19 June 1987 (next to be held
|
||
by June 1992);
|
||
results--percent of vote by party NA;
|
||
seats--(49 total) PLP 31, FNM 16, independents 2
|
||
|
||
Communists: none known
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Vanguard Nationalist and Socialist
|
||
Party (VNSP), a small leftist party headed by Lionel Carey; Trade Union
|
||
Congress (TUC), headed by Arlington Miller
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77,
|
||
GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, ILO, IMF,
|
||
IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAS, PAHO, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
|
||
WTO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Margaret E. MCDONALD; Chancery at
|
||
Suite 865, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037;
|
||
telephone (202) 944-3390; there are Bahamian Consulates General in Miami
|
||
and New York;
|
||
US--Ambassador Chic HECHT; Embassy at Mosmar Building,
|
||
Queen Street, Nassau (mailing address is P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau);
|
||
telephone (809) 322-1181 or 328-2206
|
||
|
||
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and
|
||
aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The Bahamas is a stable, middle-income developing nation whose
|
||
economy is based primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone
|
||
provides about 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about 50,000 people
|
||
or 40% of the local work force. The economy has boomed in recent years, aided by
|
||
a steady annual increase in the number of tourists. The per capita GDP of over
|
||
$9,800 is one of the highest in the region.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $2.4 billion, per capita $9,875; real growth rate 2.0%
|
||
(1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment: 12% (1986)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $555 million; expenditures $702 million, including
|
||
capital expenditures of $138 million (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $733 million (f.o.b., 1987);
|
||
commodities--pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish;
|
||
partners--US 90%, UK 10%
|
||
|
||
Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1987);
|
||
commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured goods, mineral fuels;
|
||
partners--Iran 30%, Nigeria 20%, US 10%, EC 10%, Gabon 10%
|
||
|
||
External debt: $1.5 billion (September 1988)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 368,000 kW capacity; 857 million kWh produced,
|
||
3,470 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: banking, tourism, cement, oil refining and
|
||
transshipment, salt production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral weld,
|
||
steel pipe
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for less than 5% of GDP; dominated by
|
||
small-scale producers; principal products--citrus fruit, vegetables,
|
||
poultry; large net importer of food
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $42 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $344 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Bahamian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Bahamian dollar
|
||
(B$) = 100 cents
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1--1.00 (fixed rate)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 2,400 km total; 1,350 km paved, 1,050 km gravel
|
||
|
||
Ports: Freeport, Nassau
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 533 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,684,123
|
||
GRT/19,574,532 DWT; includes 26 passenger, 15 short-sea passenger, 121 cargo,
|
||
40 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 42 refrigerated cargo, 16 container, 6 car carrier,
|
||
123 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 6 liquefied gas, 19
|
||
combination ore/oil, 29 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 86 bulk,
|
||
3 combination bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 9 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 59 total, 57 usable; 31 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 25 with
|
||
runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: highly developed; 99,000 telephones in totally
|
||
automatic system; tropospheric scatter and submarine cable links to Florida;
|
||
stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables;1 Atlantic Ocean
|
||
INTELSAT earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (a coast guard element only),
|
||
Royal Bahamas Police Force
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: NA
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: NA
|
||
.pa
|
||
Bahrain
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 620 km2; land area: 620 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 161 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: not specific;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 3 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands
|
||
|
||
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas,
|
||
fish
|
||
|
||
Land use: 2% arable land; 2% permanent crops; 6% meadows and pastures;
|
||
0% forest and woodland; 90% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: subsurface water sources being rapidly depleted (requires
|
||
development of desalination facilities); dust storms; desertification
|
||
|
||
Note: proximity to primary Middle Eastern crude oil sources
|
||
and strategic location in Persian Gulf through which much of Western world's
|
||
crude oil must transit to reach open ocean
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 520,186 (July 1990), growth rate 3.2% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 3 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 8 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 19 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 76 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 4.1 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Bahraini(s); adjective--Bahraini
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 63% Bahraini, 13% Asian, 10% other Arab, 8% Iranian, 6%
|
||
other
|
||
|
||
Religion: Muslim (70% Shia, 30% Sunni)
|
||
|
||
Language: Arabic (official); English also widely spoken; Farsi, Urdu
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 40%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 140,000; 42% of labor force is Bahraini; 85% industry and
|
||
commerce, 5% agriculture, 5% services, 3% government (1982)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: General Committee for Bahrain Workers exists in only
|
||
eight major designated companies
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: State of Bahrain
|
||
|
||
Type: traditional monarchy
|
||
|
||
Capital: Manama
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 11 municipalities (baladiyat,
|
||
singular--baladiyah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah
|
||
al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta,
|
||
Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq,
|
||
Ar Rifa wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs,
|
||
Madinat Isa, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
|
||
|
||
Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law
|
||
|
||
National holiday: National Day, 16 December
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: amir, crown prince and heir apparent, prime minister,
|
||
Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved
|
||
26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Amir Isa bin Salman Al KHALIFA (since
|
||
2 November 1961); Heir Apparent Hamad bin Isa Al KHALIFA (son of Amir;
|
||
born 28 January 1950);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al KHALIFA,
|
||
(since 19 January 1970)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and pressure groups: political parties prohibited;
|
||
several small, clandestine leftist and Shia fundamentalist groups are active
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: none
|
||
|
||
Elections: none
|
||
|
||
Communists: negligible
|
||
|
||
Member of: Arab League, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), GCC, IBRD, ICAO,
|
||
IDB--Islamic Development Bank, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
|
||
UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ghazi Muhammad AL-QUSAYBI;
|
||
Chancery at 3502 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
|
||
(202) 342-0741 or 342-0742; there is a Bahraini Consulate General in
|
||
New York; US--Ambassador Dr. Charles W. HOSTLER; Embassy at Shaikh
|
||
Isa Road, Manama (mailing address is P. O. 26431, Manama, or FPO New York
|
||
09526); telephone <20>973<37> 714151 through 714153
|
||
|
||
Flag: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the
|
||
hoist side
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The oil price decline in recent years has had an adverse
|
||
impact on the economy. Petroleum production and processing account for about
|
||
85% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 20% of GDP. In 1986
|
||
soft oil-market conditions led to a 5% drop in GDP, in sharp contrast
|
||
wit the 5% average annual growth rate during the early 1980s. The
|
||
slowdown in economic activity, however, has helped to check the
|
||
inflation of the 1970s. The government's past economic diversification
|
||
efforts have moderated the severity of the downturn but failed to
|
||
offset oil and gas revenue losses.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $3.5 billion, per capita $7,550 (1987); real growth rate 0% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment: 8-10% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $1,136 million; expenditures $1,210 million,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $294 million (1987)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.);
|
||
commodities--petroleum 80%, aluminum 7%, other 13%; partners--US,
|
||
UAE, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia
|
||
|
||
Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities--nonoil 59%,
|
||
crude oil 41%; partners--UK, Saudi Arabia, US, Japan
|
||
|
||
External debt: $1.1 billion (December 1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate - 3.1% (1987)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 1,652,000 kW capacity; 6,000 million kWh produced,
|
||
12,800 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting,
|
||
offshore banking, ship repairing
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: including fishing, accounts for less than 2% of GDP;
|
||
not self-sufficient in food production; heavily subsidized sector produces
|
||
fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, shrimp, and fish; fish catch 9,000
|
||
metric tons in 1987
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $24 million;
|
||
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87),
|
||
$28 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.8 billion
|
||
|
||
Currency: Bahraini dinar (plural--dinars); 1 Bahraini dinar
|
||
(BD) = 1,000 fils
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1--0.3760 (fixed rate)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 200 km bituminous surfaced, including 25 km
|
||
bridge-causeway to Saudi Arabia opened in November 1986; NA km
|
||
natural surface tracks
|
||
|
||
Ports: Mina Salman, Mina al Manamah, Sitrah
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 1 cargo and 1 bulk (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,621
|
||
GRT/44,137 DWT
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: crude oil, 56 km; refined products, 16 km; natural gas, 32 km
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 24 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with
|
||
runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: excellent international telecommunications; adequate
|
||
domestic services; 98,000 telephones; stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV; satellite
|
||
earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT;
|
||
tropospheric scatter and microwave to Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia; submarine cable
|
||
to Qatar and UAE
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army (Defense Force), Navy, Air Force, Police Force
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 183,580; 102,334 fit for military service
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 5% of GDP, or $194 million (1990 est.)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Baker Island
|
||
(territory of the US)
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 1.4 km2; land area: 1.4 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: about 2.3 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 4.8 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 m;
|
||
|
||
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
|
||
|
||
Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow
|
||
fringing reef
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891)
|
||
|
||
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and
|
||
pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: treeless, sparse and scattered vegetation consisting of
|
||
grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; lacks fresh water;
|
||
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
|
||
shorebirds, and marine wildlife
|
||
|
||
Note: remote location 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific
|
||
Ocean, just north of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: uninhabited
|
||
|
||
Note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval
|
||
attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but
|
||
abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and
|
||
generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and cemetery ruins
|
||
located near the middle of the west coast
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish
|
||
and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
|
||
National Wildlife Refuge system
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: no economic activity
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the
|
||
the middle of the west coast
|
||
|
||
Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m
|
||
|
||
Note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the
|
||
US Coast Guard
|
||
.pa
|
||
Bangladesh
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 144,000 km2; land area: 133,910 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 4,246 km total; Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 580 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Contiguous zone: 18 nm;
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: up to outer limits of continental margin;
|
||
|
||
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: a portion of the boundary with India is in dispute;
|
||
water sharing problems with upstream riparian India over the Ganges
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer
|
||
(March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: natural gas, uranium, arable land, timber
|
||
|
||
Land use: 67% arable land; 2% permanent crops; 4% meadows and pastures;
|
||
16% forest and woodland; 11% other; includes 14% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: vulnerable to droughts; much of country routinely flooded
|
||
during summer monsoon season; overpopulation; deforestation
|
||
|
||
Note: almost completely surrounded by India
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 118,433,062 (July 1990), growth rate 2.8% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 42 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 14 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 136 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 53 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 5.7 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Bangladeshi(s); adjective--Bangladesh
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 98% Bengali; 250,000 Biharis, and less than 1 million
|
||
tribals
|
||
|
||
Religion: 83% Muslim, about 16% Hindu, less than 1% Buddhist, Christian,
|
||
and other
|
||
|
||
Language: Bangla (official), English widely used
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 29% (39% men, 18% women)
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 35,100,000; 74% agriculture, 15% services, 11% industry and
|
||
commerce; extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Kuwait
|
||
(FY86)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 3% of labor force belongs to 2,614 registered unions
|
||
(1986 est.)
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: People's Republic of Bangladesh
|
||
|
||
Type: republic
|
||
|
||
Capital: Dhaka
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 64 districts (zillagulo,
|
||
singular--zilla); Bagerhat, Bandarban, Barisal, Bhola, Bogra,
|
||
Borguna, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Chapai Nawabganj,
|
||
Chattagram, Chuadanga, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Dhaka,
|
||
Dinajpur, Faridpur, Feni, Gaibandha, Gazipur, Gopalganj,
|
||
Habiganj, Jaipurhat, Jamalpur, Jessore, Jhalakati, Jhenaidah,
|
||
Khagrachari, Khulna, Kishorganj, Kurigram, Kushtia, Laksmipur,
|
||
Lalmonirhat, Madaripur, Magura, Manikganj, Meherpur,
|
||
Moulavibazar, Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Naogaon, Narail,
|
||
Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Nator, Netrakona, Nilphamari,
|
||
Noakhali, Pabna, Panchagar, Parbattya Chattagram,
|
||
Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Rajbari, Rajshahi, Rangpur,
|
||
Satkhira, Shariyatpur, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Sunamganj, Sylhet,
|
||
Tangail, Thakurgaon
|
||
|
||
Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan; formerly East Pakistan)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended
|
||
following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on English common law
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, vice president, prime minister,
|
||
three deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--President Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD
|
||
(since 11 December 1983, elected 15 October 1986); Vice President
|
||
Moudad AHMED (since 12 August 1989);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Prime Minister Qazi Zafar AHMED (since 12
|
||
August 1989)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Jatiyo Party, Hussain Mohammad
|
||
Ershad; Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Begum Ziaur Rahman; Awami League, Sheikh
|
||
Hasina Wazed; United People's Party, Kazi Zafar Ahmed; Democratic League,
|
||
Khondakar Mushtaque Ahmed; Muslim League, Khan A. Sabur; Jatiyo Samajtantrik
|
||
Dal (National Socialist Party), M. A. Jalil; Bangladesh Communist Party
|
||
(pro-Soviet), Saifuddin Ahmed Manik; Jamaat-E-Islami, Ali Khan
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held 15 October 1986 (next to be held October
|
||
1991);
|
||
results--President Hussain Mohammad Ershad received 83.5% of vote;
|
||
|
||
Parliament--last held 3 March 1988 (next to be held March
|
||
1993); results--percent of vote by party NA;
|
||
seats--(330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats reserved for women)
|
||
Jatiyo Party won 256 out of 300 seats
|
||
|
||
Communists: 5,000 members (1987 est.)
|
||
|
||
Member of: ADB, CCC, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth, ESCAP, FAO, G-77,
|
||
GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC,
|
||
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IRC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN,
|
||
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WFTU, WMO, WTO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador A. H. S. Ataul KARIM; Chancery
|
||
at 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007; telephone (202) 342-8372
|
||
through 8376; there is a Bangladesh Consulate General in New York;
|
||
US--Ambassador-designate William B. MILAM; Embassy at Diplomatic
|
||
Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara Model Town, Dhaka (mailing address
|
||
is G. P. O. Box 323, Ramna, Dhaka); telephone <20>88<38> (2) 608170
|
||
|
||
Flag: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center;
|
||
green is the traditional color of Islam
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The economy is based on the output of a narrow range of
|
||
agricultural products, such as jute, which is the main cash crop and major
|
||
source of export earnings. Bangladesh is hampered by a relative lack of natural
|
||
resources, a rapid population growth of 2.8% a year and a limited
|
||
infrastructure, and it is highly vulnerable to natural disasters.
|
||
Despite these constraints, real GDP averaged about 3.8% annually
|
||
during 1985-88. One of the poorest nations in the world, alleviation
|
||
of poverty remains the cornerstone of the government's development
|
||
strategy. The agricultural sector contributes over 50% to GDP and
|
||
75% to exports, and employs over 74% of the labor force. Industry
|
||
accounts for about 10% of GDP.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $20.6 billion, per capita $180; real growth rate 2.1% (FY89 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8-10% (FY89 est.)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 30% (FY88 est.)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $1.8 billion; expenditures $3.3 billion, including
|
||
capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (FY89)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., FY89 est.);
|
||
commodities--jute, tea, leather, shrimp, manufacturing;
|
||
partners--US 25%, Western Europe 22%, Middle East 9%, Japan 8%,
|
||
Eastern Europe 7%
|
||
|
||
Imports: $3.1 billion (c.i.f., FY89 est.);
|
||
commodities--food, petroleum and other energy, nonfood consumer goods,
|
||
semiprocessed goods, and capital equipment;
|
||
partners--Western Europe 18%, Japan 14%, Middle East 9%, US 8%
|
||
|
||
External debt: $10.4 billion (December 1989)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 5.4% (FY89 est.)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 1,700,000 kW capacity; 4,900 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per
|
||
capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: jute manufacturing, food processing, cotton textiles,
|
||
petroleum, urea fertilizer
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for about 50% of GDP and 74% of both employment
|
||
and exports; imports 10% of food grain requirements; world's largest
|
||
exporter of jute; commercial products--jute, rice, wheat, tea, sugarcane,
|
||
potatoes, beef, milk, poultry; shortages include wheat, vegetable oils
|
||
and cotton; fish catch 778,000 metric tons in 1986
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $3.2 billion; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-87), $9.5 billion;
|
||
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $652 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
|
||
$1.5 billion
|
||
|
||
Currency: taka (plural--taka); 1 taka (Tk) = 100 paise
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1--32.270 (January 1990), 32.270 (1989),
|
||
31.733 (1988), 30.950 (1987), 30.407 (1986), 27.995 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 2,892 km total (1986); 1,914 km 1.000 meter gauge, 978 km
|
||
1.676 meter broad gauge
|
||
|
||
Highways: 7,240 km total (1985); 3,840 km paved, 3,400 km unpaved
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes
|
||
2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)
|
||
|
||
Ports: Chittagong, Chalna
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 331,568 GRT/493,935
|
||
DWT; includes 38 cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
|
||
3 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 3 bulk
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: 650 km natural gas
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 15 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 16 total, 13 usable; 13 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 7 with
|
||
runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: adequate international radio communications and
|
||
landline service; fair domestic wire and microwave service; fair broadcast
|
||
service; 182,000 telephones; stations--9 AM, 6 FM, 11 TV; 2 Indian Ocean
|
||
INTELSAT satellite earth stations
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force; paramilitary forces--Bangladesh Rifles,
|
||
Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Coastal Police
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 28,110,802; 16,686,644 fit for military
|
||
service
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 1.5% of GDP, or $309 million (FY90 est.)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Barbados
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 430 km2; land area: 430 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 97 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)
|
||
|
||
Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: crude oil, fishing, natural gas
|
||
|
||
Land use: 77% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 9% meadows and pastures;
|
||
0% forest and woodland; 14% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: subject to hurricanes (especially June to October)
|
||
|
||
Note: easternmost Caribbean island
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 262,688 (July 1990), growth rate 0.6% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 16 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 77 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Barbadian(s); adjective--Barbadian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 80% African, 16% mixed, 4% European
|
||
|
||
Religion: 70% Anglican, 9% Methodist, 4% Roman Catholic, 17% other,
|
||
including Moravian
|
||
|
||
Language: English
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 99%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 112,300; 37% services and government; 22% commerce,
|
||
22% manufacturing and construction; 9% transportation, storage, communications,
|
||
and financial institutions; 8% agriculture; 2% utilities (1985 est.)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 32% of labor force
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: parliamentary democracy
|
||
|
||
Capital: Bridgetown
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew,
|
||
Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael,
|
||
Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note--there may a new city of
|
||
Bridgetown
|
||
|
||
Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 30 November 1966
|
||
|
||
Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister,
|
||
deputy prime minister, Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or
|
||
Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
|
||
represented by Governor General Sir Hugh SPRINGER (since 24 February
|
||
1984);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Prime Minister Lloyd Erskine SANDIFORD (since
|
||
2 June 1987)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party (DLP), Erskine
|
||
Sandiford; Barbados Labor Party (BLP), Henry Forde; National Democratic
|
||
Party (NDP), Richie Haynes
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
House of Assembly--last held 28 May 1986 (next to be held by May 1991);
|
||
results--DLP 59.4%, BLP 40.6%; seats--(27 total) DLP 24, BLP 3; note--a
|
||
split in the DLP in February 1989 resulted in the formation of the NDP,
|
||
changing the status of seats to DLP 20, NDP 4, BLP 3
|
||
|
||
Communists: negligible
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Industrial and General Workers Union,
|
||
Bobby Clarke; People's Progressive Movement, Eric Sealy; Workers' Party of
|
||
Barbados, Dr. George Belle
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, CARICOM, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,
|
||
IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
|
||
INTERPOL, ISO, ITU, IWC--International Wheat Council, NAM, OAS, PAHO, SELA,
|
||
UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Sir William DOUGLAS; Chancery at
|
||
2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 939-9200 through
|
||
9202; there is a Barbadian Consulate General in New York and a Consulate
|
||
in Los Angeles;
|
||
US--Ambassador-nominee G. Philip HUGHES; Embassy at Canadian
|
||
Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown (mailing
|
||
address is P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown or FPO Miami 34054); telephone (809)
|
||
436-4950 through 4957
|
||
|
||
Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and blue
|
||
with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head
|
||
represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms
|
||
contained a complete trident)
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: A per capita income of $5,250 gives Barbados
|
||
the highest standard of living of all the small island states of the
|
||
eastern Caribbean. Historically, the economy was based on the cultivation
|
||
of sugarcane and related activities. In recent years, however, the economy
|
||
has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The tourist industry
|
||
is now a major employer of the labor force and a primary source of
|
||
foreign exchange. A high unemployment rate of about 19% in 1988 remains
|
||
one of the most serious economic problems facing the country.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $1.3 billion, per capita $5,250 (1988 est.); real growth rate
|
||
3.7% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment: 18.6% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $476 million; expenditures $543 million,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $94 million (FY86)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $173 million (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--sugar and molasses, electrical components, clothing, rum,
|
||
machinery and transport equipment;
|
||
partners: US 30%, CARICOM, UK, Puerto Rico, Canada
|
||
|
||
Imports: $582 million (c.i.f., 1988);
|
||
commodities--foodstuffs, consumer durables, raw materials, crude oil;
|
||
partners--US 34%, CARICOM, Japan, UK, Canada
|
||
|
||
External debt: $635 million (December 1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate - 5.4% (1987 est.)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 132,000 kW capacity; 460 million kWh produced, 1,780
|
||
kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly
|
||
for export
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; major cash crop is sugarcane;
|
||
other crops--vegetables and cotton; not self-sufficient in food
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-84), $14 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $144 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Barbadian dollars (plural--dollars); 1 Barbadian dollar
|
||
(Bds$) = 100 cents
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1--2.0113 (fixed rate)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 1,570 km total; 1,475 km paved, 95 km gravel and earth
|
||
|
||
Ports: Bridgetown
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,200
|
||
GRT/7,338 DWT
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: islandwide automatic telephone system with 89,000
|
||
telephones; tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad and St. Lucia; stations--3 AM,
|
||
2 FM, 2 (1 is pay) TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force, Royal Barbados Police Force,
|
||
Coast Guard
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 67,677; 47,566 fit for military service,
|
||
no conscription
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 0.6% of GDP (1986)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Bassas da India
|
||
(French possession)
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: undetermined
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: undetermined
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 35.2 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
|
||
|
||
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: claimed by Madagascar
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical
|
||
|
||
Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 m high
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: none
|
||
|
||
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
|
||
0% forest and woodland; 100% other (rock)
|
||
|
||
Environment: surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
|
||
|
||
Note: navigational hazard since it is usually under water during
|
||
high tide; located in southern Mozambique Channel about halfway between Africa
|
||
and Madagascar
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: uninhabited
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic
|
||
Daniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: no economic activity
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
|
||
.pa
|
||
Belgium
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 30,510 km2; land area: 30,230 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 1,385 km total; France 620 km, Luxembourg
|
||
148 km, Netherlands 450 km, FRG 167 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 64 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: not specific;
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: equidistant line with neighbors (extends
|
||
about 68 km from coast);
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
|
||
|
||
Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged
|
||
mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: coal, natural gas
|
||
|
||
Land use: 24% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 20% meadows and pastures;
|
||
21% forest and woodland; 34% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: air and water pollution
|
||
|
||
Note: majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels;
|
||
crossroads of Western Europe; Brussels is the seat of the EC
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 9,909,285 (July 1990), growth rate 0.1% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Belgian(s); adjective--Belgian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 55% Fleming, 33% Walloon, 12% mixed or other
|
||
|
||
Religion: 75% Roman Catholic; remainder Protestant or other
|
||
|
||
Language: 56% Flemish (Dutch), 32% French, 1% German; 11% legally
|
||
bilingual; divided along ethnic lines
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 98%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 4,000,000; 58% services, 37% industry, 5% agriculture (1987)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 70% of labor force
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Kingdom of Belgium
|
||
|
||
Type: constitutional monarchy
|
||
|
||
Capital: Brussels
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (French--provinces,
|
||
singular--province; Flemish--provincien, singular--provincie); Antwerpen,
|
||
Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen,
|
||
West-Vlaanderen
|
||
|
||
Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 8-9 August 1980; the
|
||
government is in the process of revising the Constitution, with the aim of
|
||
federalizing the Belgian state
|
||
|
||
Legal system: civil law system influenced by English constitutional
|
||
theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
|
||
jurisdiction, with reservations
|
||
|
||
National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King Leopold
|
||
to the throne in 1831)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, five deputy prime ministers,
|
||
Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper chamber or
|
||
Senate (Flemish--Senaat, French--Senat) and a lower chamber or Chamber of
|
||
Representatives (Flemish--Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers, French--Chambre
|
||
des Representants)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish--Hof van Cassatie,
|
||
French--Cour de Cassation)
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--King BAUDOUIN I (since 17 July 1951);
|
||
Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT of Liege (brother of the King; born 6
|
||
June 1934);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Prime Minister Wilfried MARTENS,
|
||
(since April 1979, with a 10-month interruption in 1981)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Flemish Social Christian (CVP), Herman
|
||
van Rompuy, president; Walloon Social Christian (PSC), Gerard Deprez,
|
||
president; Flemish Socialist (SP), Frank Vandenbroucke, president; Walloon
|
||
Socialist (PS), Guy Spitaels, president; Flemish Liberal (PVV),
|
||
Guy Verhofstadt, president; Walloon Liberal (PRL), Antoine Duquesne,
|
||
president; Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Georges Clerfayt, president;
|
||
Volksunie (VU), Jaak Gabriels, president; Communist Party (PCB),
|
||
Louis van Geyt, president; Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel Dillen;
|
||
other minor parties
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
Senate--last held 13 December 1987 (next to be held December
|
||
1991);
|
||
results--CVP 19.2%, PS 15.7%, SP 14.7%, PVV 11.3%, PRL 9.3%,
|
||
VU 8.1%, PSC 7.8%, ECOLO-AGALEV 7.7%, VB 2.0%, VDF 1.3%,
|
||
other 1.96%;
|
||
seats--(106 total) CVP 22, PS 20, SP 17, PRL 12, PVV 11, PSC 9, VU 8,
|
||
ECOLO-AGALEV 5, VB 1, FDF 1;
|
||
|
||
Chamber of Representatives--last held 13 December 1987
|
||
(next to be held December 1991);
|
||
results--CVP 19.45%, PS 15.66%, SP 14.88%, PVV 11.55%, PRL 9.41%,
|
||
PSC 8.01%, VU 8.05%, ECOLO-AGALEV 7.05%, VB 1.90%, FDF 1.16%, other
|
||
2.88%;
|
||
seats--(212 total) CVP 43, PS 40, SP 32, PVV 25, PRL 23,
|
||
PSC 19, VU 16, ECOLO-AGALEV 9, FDF 3, VB 2
|
||
|
||
Communists: under 5,000 members (December 1985 est.)
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Christian and Socialist Trade Unions;
|
||
Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representing
|
||
bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical
|
||
professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders
|
||
and Wallonia; various peace groups such as the Flemish Action Committee Against
|
||
Nuclear Weapons and Pax Christi
|
||
|
||
Member of: ADB, Benelux, BLEU, CCC, Council of Europe, DAC, EC, ECE,
|
||
ECOSOC, EIB, EMS, ESA, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICES, ICO, IDA,
|
||
IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO,
|
||
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOOC, IPU, ITC, ITU, NATO, OAS (observer), OECD, UN, UNESCO,
|
||
UPU, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Herman DEHENNIN; Chancery at
|
||
3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 333-6900;
|
||
there are Belgian Consulates General in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
|
||
and New York;
|
||
US--Ambassador Maynard W. GLITMAN; Embassy at 27 Boulevard du Regent,
|
||
B-1000 Brussels (mailing address is APO New York 09667);
|
||
telephone <20>32<33> (2) 513-3830; there is a US Consulate General in Antwerp
|
||
|
||
Flag: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red;
|
||
the design was based on the flag of France
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: This small private-enterprise economy has capitalized
|
||
on its central geographic location, highly developed transport
|
||
network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is
|
||
concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north, although
|
||
the government is encouraging reinvestment in the southern region
|
||
of Walloon. With few natural resources Belgium must import essential raw
|
||
materials, making its economy closely dependent on the state of world
|
||
markets. In 1988 over 70% of trade was with other EC countries. During the
|
||
period 1986-88 the economy profited from falling oil prices and a lower
|
||
dollar, which helped to improve the terms of trade. Real GDP grew
|
||
by an average of 3.5% in 1986-89, up from 1.5% in 1985. However, a
|
||
large budget deficit and 10% unemployment cast a shadow on the
|
||
economy.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $136.0 billion, per capita $13,700; real growth rate 4.5%
|
||
(1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 9.7% est. (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $45.0 billion; expenditures $55.3 billion,
|
||
including capital expenditures of NA (1989)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $100.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic
|
||
Union; commodities--iron and steel, transportation equipment,
|
||
tractors, diamonds, petroleum products;
|
||
partners--EC 74%, US 5%, Communist countries 2% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Imports: $100.1 billion (c.i.f., 1989) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic
|
||
Union; commodities--fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs;
|
||
partners--EC 72%, US 5%, oil-exporting less developed countries 4%,
|
||
Communist countries 3% (1988)
|
||
|
||
External debt: $27.5 billion (1988)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 6.4% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 17,325,000 kW capacity; 62,780 million kWh produced,
|
||
6,350 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: engineering and metal products, processed food and beverages,
|
||
chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 2% of GDP; emphasis on livestock
|
||
production--beef, veal, pork, milk; major crops are sugar beets, fresh
|
||
vegetables, fruits, grain, and tobacco; net importer of farm products
|
||
|
||
Aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-87), $4.3 billion
|
||
|
||
Currency: Belgian franc (plural--francs); 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100
|
||
centimes
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Belgian francs (BF) per US$1--35.468 (January 1990),
|
||
39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988), 37.334 (1987), 44.672 (1986), 59.378 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: Belgian National Railways (SNCB) operates 3,667 km
|
||
1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned; 2,563 km double track; 1,978 km
|
||
electrified; 191 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned and operated
|
||
|
||
Highways: 103,396 km total; 1,317 km limited access, divided autoroute;
|
||
11,717 km national highway; 1,362 km provincial road; about 38,000 km
|
||
paved and 51,000 km unpaved rural roads
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)
|
||
|
||
Ports: Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Oostende, Zeebrugge, 1 secondary, and
|
||
1 minor maritime; 11 inland
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 67 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,854,898
|
||
GRT/3,071,637 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 10 cargo, 6
|
||
roll-on/roll-off, 6 container, 7 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
|
||
tanker, 6 liquefied gas, 3 combination ore/oil, 9 chemical tanker, 13
|
||
bulk, 6 combination bulk
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: refined products 1,167 km; crude 161 km; natural gas 3,300 km
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 47 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 42 total, 42 usable; 24 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 14 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with
|
||
runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international telephone and
|
||
telegraph facilities; 4,560,000 telephones; stations--8 AM, 19 FM (41 relays),
|
||
25 TV (10 relays); 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations operating
|
||
in INTELSAT 3 Atlantic Ocean and EUTELSAT systems
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 2,512,681; 2,114,701 fit for military
|
||
service; 66,758 reach military age (19) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 2.7% of GDP, or $3.7 billion (1989 est.)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Belize
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 22,960 km2; land area: 22,800 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 516 km total; Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 386 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 3 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: claimed by Guatemala, but boundary negotiations are
|
||
under way
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)
|
||
|
||
Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish
|
||
|
||
Land use: 2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 2% meadows and pastures;
|
||
44% forest and woodland; 52% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December)
|
||
and coastal flooding (especially in south); deforestation
|
||
|
||
Note: national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to
|
||
Belmopan because of hurricanes; only country in Central America without a
|
||
coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 219,737 (July 1990), growth rate 3.7% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 38 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 35 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 72 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 4.8 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Belizean(s); adjective--Belizean
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 39.7% Creole, 33.1% Mestizo, 9.5% Maya, 7.6%
|
||
Garifuna, 2.1% East Indian, 8.0% other
|
||
|
||
Religion: 60% Roman Catholic; 40% Protestant (Anglican, Seventh-Day
|
||
Adventist, Methodist, Baptist, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mennonite)
|
||
|
||
Language: English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 93% (est.)
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 51,500; 30.0% agriculture, 16.0% services, 15.4% government,
|
||
11.2% commerce, 10.3% manufacturing; shortage of skilled labor and all types of
|
||
technical personnel (1985)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 30% of labor force; 11 unions currently active
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: parliamentary
|
||
|
||
Capital: Belmopan
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal,
|
||
Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
|
||
|
||
Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK; formerly British Honduras)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 21 September 1981
|
||
|
||
Legal system: English law
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister,
|
||
deputy prime minister, Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house
|
||
or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by
|
||
Governor General Dame Elmira Minita GORDON (since 21 September 1981);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Prime Minister George Cadle PRICE (since 4
|
||
September 1989)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: People's United Party (PUP),
|
||
George Price, Florencio Marin, Said Musa; United Democratic Party (UDP),
|
||
Manuel Esquivel, Curl Thompson, Dean Barrow; Belize Popular Party
|
||
(BPP), Louis Sylvestre
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
National Assembly--last held 4 September 1989 (next to be
|
||
held September 1994);
|
||
results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(28 total)
|
||
PUP 15 seats, UDP 13 seats; note--in January 1990 one
|
||
member expelled from UDP joined PUP, making the seat count
|
||
16 PUP, UDP 12
|
||
|
||
Communists: negligible
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Society for the Promotion
|
||
of Education and Research (SPEAR) headed by former PUP minister;
|
||
United Workers Front
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, CARICOM, CDB, Commonwealth, FAO, GATT, IBRD, IDA, IFAD,
|
||
IFC, ILO, IMF, G-77, ISO, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Edward A. LAING; Chancery at
|
||
Suite 2J, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
|
||
(202) 363-4505;
|
||
US--Ambassador Robert G. RICH, Jr.; Embassy at Gabourel Lane and Hutson
|
||
Street, Belize City (mailing address is P. O. Box 286, Belize City); telephone
|
||
<EFBFBD>501<EFBFBD> 77161 through 77163
|
||
|
||
Flag: blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges;
|
||
centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms
|
||
features a shield flanked by two workers with a mahogany tree at the top and the
|
||
related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at
|
||
the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The economy is based primarily on agriculture and
|
||
merchandising. Agriculture accounts for more than 30% of GDP and provides 75%
|
||
of export earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of
|
||
hard currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in
|
||
efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification
|
||
program. In 1987 the drop in income from sugar sales to the US because of quota
|
||
reductions was almost totally offset by higher world prices for sugar.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $225.6 million, per capita $1,285; real growth rate 6% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 14% (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $94.6 million; expenditures $74.3 million,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $33.9 million (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $120 million (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--sugar, clothing, seafood, molasses, citrus, wood and
|
||
wood products;
|
||
partners--US 47%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada (1987)
|
||
|
||
Imports: $176 million (c.i.f., 1988);
|
||
commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured
|
||
goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals;
|
||
partners--US 55%, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico (1987)
|
||
|
||
External debt: $140 million (December 1988)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 6% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 34,000 kW capacity; 88 million kWh produced,
|
||
500 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: sugar refining, clothing, timber and forest products,
|
||
furniture, rum, soap, beverages, cigarettes, tourism
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP (including fish and forestry);
|
||
commercial crops include sugarcane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits; expanding
|
||
output of lumber and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic foods
|
||
|
||
Illicit drugs: an illicit producer of cannabis for the
|
||
international drug trade; eradication program cut marijuana
|
||
production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to 66 metric tons in 1989;
|
||
transshipment point for cocaine
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $94 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $194 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Belizean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Belizean dollar
|
||
(Bz$) = 100 cents
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1--2.00 (fixed rate)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 2,575 km total; 340 km paved, 1,190 km gravel, 735 km improved
|
||
earth, and 310 km unimproved earth
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft;
|
||
seasonally navigable
|
||
|
||
Ports: Belize City, Belize City Southwest
|
||
|
||
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 38 total, 30 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: 8,650 telephones; above-average system based on
|
||
radio relay; stations--6 AM, 5 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean
|
||
INTELSAT earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: British Forces Belize, Belize Defense Force, Coast
|
||
Guard, Police Department
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 50,988; 30,502 fit for military service;
|
||
2,500 reach military age (18) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 2.0% of GDP, or $4.6 million (1989 est.)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Benin
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 112,620 km2; land area: 110,620 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 1,989 km total; Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km,
|
||
Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 121 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 200 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone,
|
||
marble, timber
|
||
|
||
Land use: 12% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 4% meadows and pastures;
|
||
35% forest and woodland; 45% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter;
|
||
deforestation; desertification
|
||
|
||
Note: recent droughts have severely affected marginal
|
||
agriculture in north; no natural harbors
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 4,673,964 (July 1990), growth rate 3.3% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 50 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 121 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 52 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 7.1 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Beninese (sing., pl.); adjective--Beninese
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 99% African (42 ethnic groups, most important being
|
||
Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba); 5,500 Europeans
|
||
|
||
Religion: 70% indigenous beliefs, 15% Muslim, 15% Christian
|
||
|
||
Language: French (official); Fon and Yoruba most common vernaculars in
|
||
south; at least six major tribal languages in north
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 25.9%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 1,900,000 (1987); 60% agriculture, 38% transport, commerce,
|
||
and public services, less than 2% industry; 49% of population of working age
|
||
(1985)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: about 75% of wage earners
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Republic of Benin
|
||
|
||
Type: dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms
|
||
adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system by 1991 planned
|
||
|
||
Capital: Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (de facto)
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono,
|
||
Oueme, Zou
|
||
|
||
Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France; formerly Dahomey)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 23 May 1977 (nullified 1 March 1990); new
|
||
constitution to be drafted by April 1990
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not
|
||
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: National Day, 30 November (1975)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, prime minister, cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral National Revolutionary Assembly
|
||
(Assemblee Nationale Revolutionnaire) dissolved 1 March 1990
|
||
and replaced by a 24-member interim High Council of the Republic
|
||
during the transition period
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Central People's Court (Cour Central Populaire)
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government--President Mathieu KEREKOU
|
||
(since 27 October 1972)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: only party--People's Revolutionary
|
||
Party of Benin (PRPB), President Mathieu Kerekou, chairman of the
|
||
Central Committee
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held July 1989 (next to be held July 1994);
|
||
results--President Mathieu Kerekou was reelected by the
|
||
National Revolutionary Assembly;
|
||
|
||
National Revolutionary Assembly--dissolved 1 March 1990 and
|
||
replaced by a 24-member interim High Council of the Republic with
|
||
legislative elections for new institutions planned for February 1991
|
||
|
||
Communists: dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CEAO, EAMA, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, G-77, GATT,
|
||
IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, Niger
|
||
River Commission, OAU, OCAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Theophile NATA; Chancery at
|
||
2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 232-6656;
|
||
US--Ambassador Harriet ISOM; Embassy at Rue Caporal Anani Bernard,
|
||
Cotonou (mailing address is B. P. 2012, Cotonou); telephone <20>229<32> 30-06-50
|
||
|
||
Flag: green with a red five-pointed star in the upper hoist-side corner
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Benin is one of the least developed countries in the world
|
||
because of limited natural resources and a poorly developed infrastructure.
|
||
Agriculture accounts for almost 45% of GDP, employs about 60% of
|
||
the labor force, and generates a major share of foreign exchange earnings.
|
||
The industrial sector contributes only about 15% to GDP and employs
|
||
2% of the work force. Persistently low prices in recent years have
|
||
limited hard currency earnings from Benin's major exports of agricultural
|
||
products and crude oil.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $1.7 billion, per capita $335; real growth rate 1.8% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment: NA
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $168 million; expenditures $317 million, including
|
||
capital expenditures of $97 million (1989)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $226 million (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--crude oil, cotton, palm products, cocoa;
|
||
partners--FRG 36%, France 16%, Spain 14%, Italy 8%, UK 7%
|
||
|
||
Imports: $413 million (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products,
|
||
intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods;
|
||
partners--France 34%, Netherlands 10%, Japan 7%, Italy 6%, US 5%
|
||
|
||
External debt: $1.0 billion (December 1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate - 0.7% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 28,000 kW capacity; 24 million kWh produced,
|
||
5 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: palm oil and palm kernel oil processing, textiles, beverages,
|
||
petroleum
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: small farms produce 90% of agricultural output;
|
||
production is dominated by food crops--corn, sorghum, cassava, beans,
|
||
and rice; cash crops include cotton, palm oil, and peanuts; poultry
|
||
and livestock output has not kept up with consumption
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $41 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.0 billion;
|
||
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
|
||
$101 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural--francs);
|
||
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
|
||
US$1--287.99 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987),
|
||
346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 578 km, all 1.000-meter gauge, single track
|
||
|
||
Highways: 5,050 km total; 920 km paved, 2,600 laterite, 1,530 km
|
||
improved earth
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: navigable along small sections, important
|
||
only locally
|
||
|
||
Ports: Cotonou
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) of 2,999 GRT/4,407 DWT
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 6 total, 5 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 2,439 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: fair system of open wire, submarine cable, and radio
|
||
relay; 16,200 telephones; stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
|
||
satellite earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: eligible 15-49, 2,015,206; of the 950,921 males 15-49,
|
||
486,620 are fit for military service; of the 1,064,285 females 15-49, 537,049
|
||
are fit for military service; about 55,550 males and 53,663 females reach
|
||
military age (18) annually; both sexes are liable for military service
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 1.7% of GDP, or $28.9 million (1988 est.)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Bermuda
|
||
(dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 50 km2; land area: 50 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 103 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
|
||
|
||
Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
|
||
|
||
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
|
||
20% forest and woodland; 80% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes;
|
||
consists of about 360 small coral islands
|
||
|
||
Note: 1,050 km east of North Carolina; some reclaimed land
|
||
leased by US Government
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 58,337 (July 1990), growth rate 1.5% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: - 6 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Bermudian(s); adjective--Bermudian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 61% black, 39% white and other
|
||
|
||
Religion: 37% Anglican, 14% Roman Catholic, 10% African Methodist
|
||
Episcopal (Zion), 6% Methodist, 5% Seventh-Day Adventist, 28% other
|
||
|
||
Language: English
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 98%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 32,000; 25% clerical, 22% services, 21% laborers,
|
||
13% professional and technical, 10% administrative and managerial, 7% sales,
|
||
2% agriculture and fishing (1984)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 8,573 members (1985); largest union is Bermuda Industrial
|
||
Union
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: dependent territory of the UK
|
||
|
||
Capital: Hamilton
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire,
|
||
Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys,
|
||
Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
|
||
|
||
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 8 June 1968
|
||
|
||
Legal system: English law
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Bermuda Day, 22 May
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: British monarch, governor, deputy governor, premier,
|
||
deputy premier, Executive Council (cabinet)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or
|
||
Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented
|
||
by Governor Sir Desmond LANGLEY (since NA October 1988);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Premier John William David SWAN (since NA January
|
||
1982)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: United Bermuda Party (UBP), John W. D.
|
||
Swan; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), Frederick Wade; National Liberal
|
||
Party (NLP), Gilbert Darrell
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 21
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
House of Assembly--last held 9 February 1989 (next to be
|
||
held by February 1994); results--percent of vote by party NA;
|
||
seats--(40 total) UBP 23, PLP 15, NLP 1, other 1
|
||
|
||
Communists: negligible
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU),
|
||
headed by Ottiwell Simmons
|
||
|
||
Member of: INTERPOL, WHO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK,
|
||
Bermuda's interests in the US are represented by the UK; US--Consul
|
||
General James M. MEDAS; Consulate General at Vallis Building,
|
||
Par-la-Ville Road (off Front Street West), Hamilton (mailing address is
|
||
P. O. Box 325, Hamilton, or FPO New York 09560); telephone (809) 295-1342
|
||
|
||
Flag: red with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
|
||
Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue shield with a red lion holding a scrolled
|
||
shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered
|
||
on the outer half of the flag
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the
|
||
world, having successfully exploited its location by providing luxury tourist
|
||
facilities and financial services. The tourist industry attracts more than
|
||
90% of its business from North America. The industrial sector is
|
||
small, and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land. About
|
||
80% of food needs are imported.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $1.3 billion, per capita $23,000; real growth rate 2.0% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.8% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment: 2.0% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $280 million; expenditures $279 million, including
|
||
capital expenditures of $34 million (FY89 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $23 million (f.o.b.,1985);
|
||
commodities--semitropical produce, light manufactures;
|
||
partners--US 25%, Italy 25%, UK 14%, Canada 5%, other 31%
|
||
|
||
Imports: $402 million (c.i.f., 1985);
|
||
commodities--fuel, foodstuffs, machinery;
|
||
partners--US 58%, Netherlands Antilles 9%, UK 8%, Canada 6%, Japan
|
||
5%, other 14%
|
||
|
||
External debt: NA
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 134,000 kW capacity; 446 million kWh produced,
|
||
7,680 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: tourism, finance, structural concrete products,
|
||
paints, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for less than 1% of GDP; most basic foods must
|
||
be imported; produces bananas, vegetables, citrus fruits, flowers, dairy
|
||
products
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $34 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $267 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Bermudian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Bermudian dollar
|
||
(Bd$) = 100 cents
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1--1.0000 (fixed rate)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 210 km public roads, all paved (about 400 km of private roads)
|
||
|
||
Ports: Freeport, Hamilton, St. George
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,163,947
|
||
GRT/7,744,319 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 10 cargo, 4 refrigerated
|
||
cargo, 5 container, 10 roll-on/roll-off, 27 petroleum, oils, and lubricants
|
||
(POL) tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 1 combination ore/oil, 10 liquefied
|
||
gas, 20 bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 16 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: modern with fully automatic telephone system; 46,290
|
||
telephones; stations--5 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV; 3 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean
|
||
INTELSAT earth stations
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
|
||
.pa
|
||
Bhutan
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 47,000 km2; land area: 47,000 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 1,075 km total; China 470 km, India 605 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot
|
||
summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
|
||
|
||
Land use: 2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 5% meadows and pastures;
|
||
70% forest and woodland; 23% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas were the source
|
||
of the country name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon
|
||
|
||
Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
|
||
controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 1,565,969 (July 1990), growth rate 2.0% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 137 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 48 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Bhutanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Bhutanese
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 60% Bhote, 25% ethnic Nepalese, 15% indigenous or
|
||
migrant tribes
|
||
|
||
Religion: 75% Lamaistic Buddhism, 25% Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
|
||
Hinduism
|
||
|
||
Language: Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects--most widely spoken
|
||
dialect is Dzongkha (official); Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 5%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: NA; 95% agriculture, 1% industry and commerce; massive lack
|
||
of skilled labor (1983)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: not permitted
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Kingdom of Bhutan
|
||
|
||
Type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
|
||
|
||
Capital: Thimphu
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 3 regions and 1 division*; Central Bhutan,
|
||
Eastern Bhutan, Southern Bhutan*, Western Bhutan; note--there may now be 18
|
||
districts (dzong, singular and plural) named Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang,
|
||
Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi,
|
||
Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdiphodrang
|
||
|
||
Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not
|
||
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: National Day (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary
|
||
king), 17 December (1907)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: monarch, chairman of the Royal Advisory Council,
|
||
Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), chairman of the Council of Ministers,
|
||
Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Tshogdu)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: High Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government--King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since
|
||
24 July 1972)
|
||
|
||
Political parties: no legal parties
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections
|
||
|
||
Elections: no national elections
|
||
|
||
Communists: no overt Communist presence
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Buddhist clergy, Indian merchant
|
||
community, ethnic Nepalese organizations
|
||
|
||
Member of: ADB, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IMF, NAM,
|
||
SAARC, UNESCO, UPU, UN, WHO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: no formal diplomatic relations, although
|
||
informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in
|
||
New Delhi (India); the Bhutanese mission to the UN in New York has consular
|
||
jurisdiction in the US
|
||
|
||
Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper
|
||
triangle is orange and the lower triangle is red; centered along the dividing
|
||
line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The economy is based on agriculture and forestry, which
|
||
provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about
|
||
50% of GDP. One of the world's least developed countries, rugged mountains
|
||
dominate and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult
|
||
and expensive. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists
|
||
are its most important natural resources.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $273 million, per capita $199; real growth rate 6.3% (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment: NA
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $99 million; expenditures $128 million, including
|
||
capital expenditures of $65 million (FY89 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY89);
|
||
commodities--cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit;
|
||
partners--India 93%
|
||
|
||
Imports: $138.3 million (c.i.f., FY89 est.);
|
||
commodities--fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts,
|
||
vehicles, fabrics;
|
||
partners--India 67%
|
||
|
||
External debt: $70.1 million (FY89 est.)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate - 12.4% (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 353,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced, 1,300 kWh
|
||
per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: cement, chemical products, mining, distilling, food
|
||
processing, handicrafts
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP; based on subsistence farming and
|
||
animal husbandry; self-sufficient in food except for foodgrains; other
|
||
production--rice, corn, root crops, citrus fruit, dairy, and eggs
|
||
|
||
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
|
||
(1970-87), $85.8 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $11 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: ngultrum (plural--ngultrum); 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100
|
||
chetrum; note--Indian currency is also legal tender
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1--16.965 (January 1990),
|
||
16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987), 12.611 (1986), 12.369 (1985);
|
||
note--the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 1,304 km total; 418 km surfaced, 515 km improved, 371 km
|
||
unimproved earth
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 1 jet, 2 prop
|
||
|
||
Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: inadequate; 1,890 telephones (1985); 15,000 radio
|
||
receivers (1987 est.); 85 TV sets (1985); stations--20 AM, no FM, no TV
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Royal Bhutan Army
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 389,142; 208,231 fit for military
|
||
service; 17,203 reach military age (18) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: NA
|
||
.pa
|
||
Bolivia
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 1,098,580 km2; land area: 1,084,390 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montana
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 6,743 km total; Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400
|
||
km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Disputes: has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since
|
||
the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca
|
||
water rights
|
||
|
||
Climate: varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
|
||
|
||
Terrain: high plateau, hills, lowland plains
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: tin, natural gas, crude oil, zinc, tungsten,
|
||
antimony, silver, iron ore, lead, gold, timber
|
||
|
||
Land use: 3% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 25% meadows and
|
||
pastures; 52% forest and woodland; 20% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: cold, thin air of high plateau is obstacle to
|
||
efficient fuel combustion; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
|
||
|
||
Note: landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's
|
||
highest navigable lake, with Peru
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 6,706,854 (July 1990), growth rate 2.1% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 35 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 125 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 56 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Bolivian(s); adjective Bolivian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 30% Quechua, 25% Aymara, 25-30% mixed, 5-15% European
|
||
|
||
Religion: 95% Roman Catholic; active Protestant minority, especially
|
||
Evangelical Methodist
|
||
|
||
Language: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara (all official)
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 63%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 1,700,000; 50% agriculture, 26% services and utilities,
|
||
10% manufacturing, 4% mining, 10% other (1983)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 150,000-200,000, concentrated in mining, industry,
|
||
construction, and transportation; mostly organized under Bolivian Workers'
|
||
Central (COB) labor federation
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Republic of Bolivia
|
||
|
||
Type: republic
|
||
|
||
Capital: La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of
|
||
judiciary)
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 9 departments (departamentos,
|
||
singular--departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, El Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando,
|
||
Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
|
||
|
||
Independence: 6 August 1825 (from Spain)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 2 February 1967
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on Spanish law and Code Napoleon; has not accepted
|
||
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
|
||
consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or
|
||
Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
|
||
|
||
Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government--President Jaime
|
||
PAZ Zamora (since 6 August 1989); Vice President Luis OSSIO Sanjines
|
||
(since 6 August 1989)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Movement of the Revolutionary
|
||
Left (MIR), Jaime Paz Zamora; Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN),
|
||
Hugo Banzer Suarez; Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (MNR), Gonzalo
|
||
Sanchez de Lozada; United Left (IU), coalition of leftist parties which
|
||
includes Free Bolivia Movement (MBL), led by Antonio Aranibar,
|
||
Patriotic National Convergency Axis (EJE-P) led by Walter Delgadillo,
|
||
and Bolivian Communist Party (PCB) led by Humberto Ramirez; Conscience of
|
||
the Fatherland (CONDEPA), Carlos Palenque Aviles; Revolutionary
|
||
Vanguard-9th of April (VR-9), Carlos Serrate Reich
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 (married) or 21 (single)
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held 7 May 1989 (next to be held May 1993);
|
||
results--Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada (MNR) 23%, Hugo Banzer Suarez
|
||
(ADN) 22%, Jaime Paz Zamora (MIR) 19%; no candidate received a
|
||
majority of the popular vote; Jaime Paz Zamora (MIR) formed a
|
||
coalition with Hugo Banzer (ADN); with ADN support Paz Zamora
|
||
won the congressional runoff election on 4 August and was inaugurated
|
||
on 6 August;
|
||
|
||
Senate--last held 7 May 1989 (next to be held May 1993);
|
||
results--percent of vote NA;
|
||
seats (27 total) MNR 9, ADN 8, MIR 8, CONDEPA 2;
|
||
|
||
Chamber of Deputies--last held 7 May 1989 (next to be held May
|
||
1993); results--percent of vote by party NA;
|
||
seats (130 total) MNR 40, ADN 38, MIR 30, IU 10, CONDEPA 9,
|
||
VR-9 3
|
||
|
||
Member of: FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IATP, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA,
|
||
IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
|
||
ISO, ITC, ITU, IWC--International Wheat Council, LAIA, NAM, OAS, PAHO,
|
||
SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jorge CRESPO; Chancery at
|
||
3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-4410
|
||
through 4412; there are Bolivian Consulates General in Houston, Los Angeles,
|
||
Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco;
|
||
US--Ambassador Robert GELBARD; Embassy at Banco Popular del Peru Building,
|
||
corner of Calles Mercado y Colon, La Paz (mailing address is P. O. Box 425,
|
||
La Paz, or APO Miami 34032); telephone <20>591<39> (2) 350251 or 350120
|
||
|
||
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with
|
||
the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag of Ghana,
|
||
which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The Bolivian economy steadily deteriorated between
|
||
1980 and 1985 as La Paz financed growing budget deficits by expanding
|
||
the money supply and inflation spiraled--peaking at 11,700%. An austere
|
||
orthodox economic program adopted by newly elected President Paz
|
||
Estenssoro in 1985, however, succeeded in reducing inflation to between
|
||
10% and 20% annually during 1987 and 1989, eventually restarting
|
||
economic growth. President Paz Zamora has pledged to retain the economic
|
||
policies of the previous government in order to keep inflation down
|
||
and continue the growth begun under his predecessor. Nevertheless,
|
||
Bolivia continues to be one of the poorest countries in Latin
|
||
America, and it remains vulnerable to price fluctuations for
|
||
its limited exports--mainly minerals and natural gas. Moreover,
|
||
for many farmers, who constitute half of the country's
|
||
work force, the main cash crop is coca, which is sold for cocaine
|
||
processing.
|
||
|
||
GNP: $4.6 billion, per capita $660; real growth rate 2.8% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15.5% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 20.7% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $2,867 million; expenditures $2,867 million,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $663 million (1987)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $634 million (f.o.b., 1989);
|
||
commodities--metals 45%, natural gas 32%, coffee, soybeans,
|
||
sugar, cotton, timber, and illicit drugs;
|
||
partners--US 23%, Argentina
|
||
|
||
Imports: $786 million (c.i.f., 1989);
|
||
commodities--food, petroleum, consumer goods, capital goods;
|
||
partners--US 15%
|
||
|
||
External debt: $5.7 billion (December 1989)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 8.1% (1987)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 817,000 kW capacity; 1,728 million kWh produced, 260 kWh per
|
||
capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverage, tobacco,
|
||
handicrafts, clothing; illicit drug industry reportedly produces the largest
|
||
revenues
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 20% of GDP (including forestry and
|
||
fisheries); principal commodities--coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice,
|
||
potatoes, timber; self-sufficient in food
|
||
|
||
Illicit drugs: world's second-largest producer of coca
|
||
(after Peru) with an estimated 54,000 hectares under cultivation;
|
||
government considers all but 12,000 hectares illicit and subject to
|
||
eradication; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or
|
||
through Colombia and Brazil to the US and other international drug
|
||
markets
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $909 million;
|
||
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87),
|
||
$1.4 billion; Communist countries (1970-88), $340 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: boliviano (plural--bolivianos); 1 boliviano ($B) = 100
|
||
centavos
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: bolivianos ($B) per US$1--2.6917 (1989), 2.3502
|
||
(1988), 2.0549 (1987), 1.9220 (1986), 0.4400 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 3,675 km total; 3,643 km 1.000-meter gauge and 32 km
|
||
0.760-meter gauge, all government owned, single track
|
||
|
||
Highways: 38,836 km total; 1,300 km paved, 6,700 km gravel, 30,836 km
|
||
improved and unimproved earth
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 10,000 km of commercially navigable waterways
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: crude oil 1,800 km; refined products 580 km; natural gas
|
||
1,495 km
|
||
|
||
Ports: none; maritime outlets are Arica and Antofagasta in Chile and
|
||
Matarani in Peru
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,051
|
||
GRT/22,155 DWT; note--1 is owned by the Bolivian Navy
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 56 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 636 total, 551 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 8 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 110 with runways
|
||
1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: radio relay system being expanded; improved
|
||
international services; 144,300 telephones; stations--129 AM, no FM, 43 TV,
|
||
68 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Bolivian Army, Bolivian Navy, Bolivian Air Force (literally,
|
||
the Army of the Nation, the Navy of the Nation, the Air Force of the Nation)
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,629,154; 1,060,187 fit for military
|
||
service; 70,528 reach military age (19) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 3% of GNP (1987)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Botswana
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 600,370 km2; land area: 585,370 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 4,013 km total; Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km,
|
||
Zimbabwe 813 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Disputes: short section of the boundary with Namibia is indefinite;
|
||
quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement
|
||
|
||
Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
|
||
|
||
Terrain: predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert
|
||
in southwest
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash,
|
||
coal, iron ore, silver, natural gas
|
||
|
||
Land use: 2% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 75% meadows and pastures;
|
||
2% forest and woodland; 21% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: rains in early 1988 broke six years of drought that had
|
||
severely affected the important cattle industry; overgrazing; desertification
|
||
|
||
Note: landlocked; very long boundary with South Africa
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 1,224,527 (July 1990), growth rate 2.8% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 43 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 58 years male, 64 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 4.8 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun and adjective--Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 95% Batswana; about 4% Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi;
|
||
about 1% white
|
||
|
||
Religion: 50% indigenous beliefs, 50% Christian
|
||
|
||
Language: English (official), Setswana
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 60%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 400,000; 163,000 formal sector employees, most others
|
||
are engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1988 est.);
|
||
19,000 are employed in various mines in South Africa (1988)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 19 trade unions
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Republic of Botswana
|
||
|
||
Type: parliamentary republic
|
||
|
||
Capital: Gaborone
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Central, Chobe, Ghanzi,
|
||
Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Ngamiland, North-East, South-East, Southern;
|
||
note--in addition, there may now be 4 town councils named Francistown,
|
||
Gaborone, Lobaste, Selebi-Pikwe
|
||
|
||
Independence: 30 September 1966 (from UK; formerly Bechuanaland)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law;
|
||
judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted
|
||
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Botswana Day, 30 September (1966)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or
|
||
House of Chiefs and a lower house or National Assembly
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government--President Quett K. J. MASIRE (since
|
||
13 July 1980); Vice President Peter S. MMUSI (since 3 January 1983)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Quett
|
||
Masire; Botswana National Front (BNF), Kenneth Koma; Botswana People's Party
|
||
(BPP), Knight Maripe; Botswana Independence Party (BIP), Motsamai Mpho;
|
||
Botswana Progressive Union (BPU), Daniel Kwele
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 21
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October
|
||
1994);
|
||
results--President Quett K. J. Masire was reelected by the National
|
||
Assembly;
|
||
|
||
National Assembly--last held 7 October 1989 (next to be
|
||
held October 1994); results--percent of vote by party NA;
|
||
seats--(34 total, 30 elected) BDP 31, BNF 3
|
||
|
||
Communists: no known Communist organization; Koma of BNF has long history
|
||
of Communist contacts
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD,
|
||
ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAU, Southern African
|
||
Customs Union, SADCC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Botsweletse Kingsley
|
||
SEBELE; Chancery at Suite 404, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington
|
||
DC 20008; telephone (202) 244-4990 or 4991;
|
||
US--Ambassador-designate David PASSAGE; Deputy Chief of Mission
|
||
Johnnie CARSON; Embassy at Botswana Road, Gaborone
|
||
(mailing address is P. O. Box 90, Gaborone); telephone <20>267<36> 353982
|
||
through 353984
|
||
|
||
Flag: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe
|
||
in the center
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The economy has historically been based on cattle raising and
|
||
crops. Agriculture today provides a livelihood for over 80% of the
|
||
population, but produces only about 50% of food needs and contributes
|
||
a small 5% to GDP. The driving force behind the rapid economic growth of
|
||
the 1970s and 1980s has been the mining industry. This sector, mostly on the
|
||
strength of diamonds, has gone from generating 25% of GDP in 1980 to over 50%
|
||
in 1988. No other sector has experienced such growth, especially not
|
||
that of the agricultural sector, which is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor
|
||
soils. The unemployment rate remains a problem at 25%. A scarce resource base
|
||
limits diversification into labor-intensive industries.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $1.87 billion, per capita $1,600; real growth rate 8.4%
|
||
(FY88)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.45% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 25% (1987)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $1,235 million; expenditures $1,080 million, including
|
||
capital expenditures of NA (FY90 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--diamonds 88%, copper and nickel 5%, meat 4%, cattle, animal
|
||
products;
|
||
partners--Switzerland, US, UK, other EC-associated members of
|
||
Southern African Customs Union
|
||
|
||
Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1988);
|
||
commodities--foodstuffs, vehicles, textiles, petroleum products;
|
||
partners--Switzerland, US, UK, other EC-associated members of Southern
|
||
African Customs Union
|
||
|
||
External debt: $700 million (December 1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 16.8% (FY86)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 217,000 kW capacity; 630 million kWh produced,
|
||
510 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: livestock processing; mining of diamonds, copper,
|
||
nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash; tourism
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for only 5% of GDP; subsistence
|
||
farming predominates; cattle raising supports 50% of the population;
|
||
must import large share of food needs
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $242 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.6 billion;
|
||
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $43 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
|
||
$24 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: pula (plural--pula); 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: pula (P) per US$1--1.8734 (January 1990), 2.0125 (1989),
|
||
1.8159 (1988), 1.6779 (1987), 1.8678 (1986), 1.8882 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 712 km 1.0 67-meter gauge
|
||
|
||
Highways: 11,514 km total; 1,600 km paved; 1,700 km crushed stone or
|
||
gravel, 5,177 km improved earth, 3,037 km unimproved earth
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 6 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 99 total, 87 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 23 with
|
||
runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: the small system is a combination of open-wire lines,
|
||
radio relay links, and a few radiocommunication stations; 17,900 telephones;
|
||
stations--2 AM, 3 FM, no TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army, Air Wing, Botswana Police
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 249,480; 131,304 fit for military
|
||
service; 14,363 reach military age (18) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 2.2% of GNP (1987)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Bouvet Island
|
||
(territory of Norway)
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 58 km2; land area: 58 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 29.6 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Contiguous zone: 10 nm;
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
|
||
|
||
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 4 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: antarctic
|
||
|
||
Terrain: volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 meters;
|
||
coast is mostly inacessible
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: none
|
||
|
||
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
|
||
0% forest and woodland; 100% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: covered by glacial ice
|
||
|
||
Note: located in the South Atlantic Ocean 2,575 km
|
||
south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: uninhabited
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: territory of Norway
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: no economic activity
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: automatic meteorological station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
|
||
.pa
|
||
Brazil
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 8,511,965 km2; land area: 8,456,510 km2; includes
|
||
Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade,
|
||
Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly smaller than the US
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 14,691 km total; Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km,
|
||
Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km,
|
||
Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 7,491 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 200 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: short section of the boundary with Paraguay (just west of
|
||
Guaira Falls on the Rio Parana) is in dispute; two short
|
||
sections of boundary with Uruguay are in dispute (Arroyo de la
|
||
Invernada area of the Rio Quarai and the islands at the confluence of
|
||
the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay); claims a Zone of Interest in Antarctica
|
||
|
||
Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills,
|
||
mountains, and narrow coastal belt
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: iron ore, manganese, bauxite, nickel, uranium,
|
||
phosphates, tin, hydropower, gold, platinum, crude oil, timber
|
||
|
||
Land use: 7% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 19% meadows and pastures;
|
||
67% forest and woodland; 6% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: recurrent droughts in northeast; floods and frost in south;
|
||
deforestation in Amazon basin; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro
|
||
and Sao Paulo
|
||
|
||
Note: largest country in South America; shares common boundaries
|
||
with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 152,505,077 (July 1990), growth rate 1.9% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 69 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 68 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Brazilian(s); adjective--Brazilian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: Portuguese, Italian, German, Japanese, black,
|
||
Amerindian; 55% white, 38% mixed, 6% black, 1% other
|
||
|
||
Religion: 90% Roman Catholic (nominal)
|
||
|
||
Language: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 76%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 57,000,000 (1989 est.); 42% services, 31% agriculture,
|
||
27% industry
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 13,000,000 dues paying members (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Federative Republic of Brazil
|
||
|
||
Type: federal republic
|
||
|
||
Capital: Brasilia
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 24 states (estados, singular--estado),
|
||
2 territories* (territorios, singular--territorio), and 1 federal district**
|
||
(distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa*, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara,
|
||
Distrito Federal**, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato
|
||
Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana,
|
||
Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul,
|
||
Rondonia, Roraima*, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins;
|
||
note--the territories of Amapa and Roraima will become states
|
||
on 15 March 1991
|
||
|
||
Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 5 October 1988
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on Latin codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
|
||
jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congresso Nacional)
|
||
consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or
|
||
Chamber of Deputies (Camara dos Deputados)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Federal Tribunal
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government--President Fernando
|
||
Affonso COLLOR de Mello (since 15 March 1990); Vice President
|
||
Itamar FRANCO (since 15 March 1990)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: National Reconstruction Party (PRN),
|
||
Daniel Tourinho, president; Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB),
|
||
Ulysses Guimaraes, president; Liberal Front Party (PFL), Hugo
|
||
Napoleao, president; Workers' Party (PT), Luis Ignacio (Lula) da
|
||
Silva, president; Brazilian Labor Party (PTB), Luiz Gonzaga de Paiva
|
||
Muniz, president; Democratic Labor Party (PDT), Doutel de Andrade,
|
||
president; Democratic Social Party (PDS), Jarbas Passarinho, president;
|
||
Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Mario Covas, president;
|
||
Brazilian Communist Party (PCB), Salomao Malina, secretary general;
|
||
Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), Joao Amazonas, president
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: voluntary at age 16; compulsory between ages 18 and 70;
|
||
voluntary at age 70
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held 15 November 1989, with runoff on 17
|
||
December 1989 (next to be held November 1994);
|
||
results--Fernando Collor de Mello 53%, Luis Inacio da Silva 47%;
|
||
first free, direct presidential election since 1960;
|
||
|
||
Senate--last held 15 November 1986 (next to be held 3 October
|
||
1990); results--PMDB 60%, PFL 21%, PDS 8%, PDT 3%, others 8%;
|
||
seats--(66 total) PMDB 43, PFL 15, PDS 6, PDT 2, others 6; note--as of
|
||
1990 Senate has 75 seats;
|
||
|
||
Chamber of Deputies--last held 15 November 1986 (next to
|
||
be held 3 October 1990);
|
||
results--PMDB 53%, PFL 23%, PDS 7%, PDT 5%, other 12%;
|
||
seats--(495 total) PMDB 258, PFL 114, PDS 33, PDT 24, others 58;
|
||
note--as of 1990 Chamber of Deputies has 570 seats
|
||
|
||
Communists: about 30,000
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: left wing of the Catholic Church
|
||
and labor unions allied to leftist Worker's Party are critical of government's
|
||
social and economic policies
|
||
|
||
Member of: CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT, Group of Eight, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC,
|
||
ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF,
|
||
IMO, INTELSAT, IPU, IRC, ISO, ITU, IWC--International Wheat Council, OAS, PAHO,
|
||
SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Marcilio Marques MOREIRA; Chancery
|
||
at 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 745-2700;
|
||
there are Brazilian Consulates General in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami,
|
||
New Orleans, and New York, and Consulates in Dallas, Houston, and San Francisco;
|
||
US--Ambassador Richard MELTON; Embassy at Avenida das Nocoes,
|
||
Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal (mailing address is APO Miami 34030);
|
||
telephone <20>55<35> (6) 321-7272; there are US Consulates General in Rio de Janeiro
|
||
and Sao Paulo, and Consulates in Porto Alegre and Recife
|
||
|
||
Flag: green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue
|
||
celestial globe with 23 white five-pointed stars (one for each state) arranged
|
||
in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white
|
||
equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The economy, a mixture of private enterprises of all
|
||
sizes and extensive government intervention, experienced enormous
|
||
difficulties in the late 1980s, notably declining real growth, runaway
|
||
inflation, foreign debt obligations of more than $100 billion, and
|
||
uncertain economic policy. Government intervention includes trade and
|
||
investment restrictions, wage/price controls, interest and exchange rate
|
||
controls, and extensive tariff barriers. Ownership of major industrial
|
||
facilities is divided among private interests, the government, and
|
||
multinational companies. Ownership in agriculture likewise is varied,
|
||
with the government intervening in the politically sensitive
|
||
issues involving large landowners and the masses of poor peasants.
|
||
In consultation with the IMF, the Brazilian Government has initiated
|
||
several programs over the last few years to ameliorate the stagnation
|
||
and foreign debt problems. None of these has given more than temporary
|
||
relief. The strategy of the new Collor government is to increase
|
||
the pace of privatization, encourage foreign trade and investment,
|
||
and establish a more realistic exchange rate. One long-run strength
|
||
is the existence of vast natural resources.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $377 billion, per capita $2,500; real growth rate 3% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1,765% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 2.5% (December 1989)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $27.8 billion; expenditures $40.1 billion,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $8.8 billion (1986)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $34.2 billion (1989 est.);
|
||
commodities--coffee, metallurgical products, chemical products,
|
||
foodstuffs, iron ore, automobiles and parts;
|
||
partners--US 28%, EC 26%, Latin America 11%, Japan 6% (1987)
|
||
|
||
Imports: $18.0 billion (1989 est.);
|
||
commodities--crude oil, capital goods, chemical products, foodstuffs,
|
||
coal;
|
||
partners--Middle East and Africa 24%, EC 22%, US 21%, Latin
|
||
America 12%, Japan 6% (1987)
|
||
|
||
External debt: $109 billion (December 1989)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 3.2% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 52,865,000 kW capacity; 202,280 million kWh produced,
|
||
1,340 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: textiles and other consumer goods, shoes, chemicals, cement,
|
||
lumber, iron ore, steel, motor vehicles and auto parts, metalworking, capital
|
||
goods, tin
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP; world's largest producer and
|
||
exporter of coffee and orange juice concentrate and second-largest exporter of
|
||
soybeans; other products--rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, beef; self-sufficient
|
||
in food, except for wheat
|
||
|
||
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and coca, mostly for
|
||
domestic consumption; government has an active eradication program
|
||
to control cannabis and coca cultivation
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $2.5 billion; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $9.5 billion;
|
||
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $284 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
|
||
$1.3 billion
|
||
|
||
Currency: novo cruzado (plural--novos cruzados);
|
||
1 novo cruzado (NCr$) = 100 centavos
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: novos cruzados (NCr$) per US$1--2.83392 (1989),
|
||
0.26238 (1988), 0.03923 (1987), 0.01366 (1986), 0.00620 (1985); note--
|
||
25 tourist/parallel rate (December 1989)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 29,694 km total; 25,268 km 1.000-meter gauge, 4,339 km
|
||
1.600-meter gauge, 74 km mixed 1.600-1.000-meter gauge,
|
||
13 km 0.760-meter gauge; 2,308 km electrified
|
||
|
||
Highways: 1,448,000 km total; 48,000 km paved, 1,400,000 km gravel or
|
||
earth
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 50,000 km navigable
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: crude oil, 2,000 km; refined products, 3,804 km; natural gas,
|
||
1,095 km
|
||
|
||
Ports: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Manaus, Paranagua, Porto Alegre,
|
||
Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 271 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,855,708
|
||
GRT/9,909,097 DWT; includes 2 passenger-cargo, 68 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo,
|
||
12 container, 9 roll-on/roll-off, 56 petroleum, oils, and lubricants
|
||
(POL) tanker, 15 chemical tanker, 10 liquefied gas, 14 combination ore/oil,
|
||
82 bulk, 2 combination bulk
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 176 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 3,774 total, 3,106 usable; 386 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
2 with runways over 3,659 m; 21 with runways 2,240-3,659 m; 503 with runways
|
||
1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: good system; extensive radio relay facilities;
|
||
9.86 million telephones; stations--1,223 AM, no FM, 112 TV, 151 shortwave;
|
||
3 coaxial submarine cables 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations with total
|
||
of 3 antennas; 64 domestic satellite stations
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Brazilian Army, Navy of Brazil, Brazilian Air Force
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 39,620,936; 26,752,307 fit for military
|
||
service; 1,617,378 reach military age (18) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 0.6% of GDP, or $2.3 billion (1989 est.)
|
||
.pa
|
||
British Indian Ocean Territory
|
||
(dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 60 km2; land area: 60 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 698 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 3 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: Diego Garcia is claimed by Mauritius
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
|
||
|
||
Terrain: flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: coconuts, fish
|
||
|
||
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
|
||
0% forest and woodland; 100% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: archipelago of 2,300 islands
|
||
|
||
Note: Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies
|
||
strategic location in central Indian Ocean
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: no permanent civilian population; formerly about 3,000
|
||
islanders
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: civilian inhabitants, known as the Ilois, evacuated to
|
||
Mauritius before construction of UK and US defense facilities
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: British Indian Ocean Territory (no short-form
|
||
name); abbreviated BIOT
|
||
|
||
Type: dependent territory of the UK
|
||
|
||
Capital: none
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Commissioner R. EDIS (since NA 1988),
|
||
Administrator Robin CROMPTON (since NA 1988);
|
||
note--both officials reside in the UK
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory
|
||
of the UK)
|
||
|
||
Flag: the flag of the UK is used
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: All economic activity is concentrated on the largest
|
||
island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located.
|
||
Construction projects and various services needed to support the military
|
||
installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK and US.
|
||
There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.
|
||
|
||
Electricity: provided by the US military
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on
|
||
Diego Garcia
|
||
|
||
Ports: Diego Garcia
|
||
|
||
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways over 3,659 m on Diego Garcia
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: minimal facilities; stations (operated by the
|
||
US Navy)--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
|
||
.pa
|
||
British Virgin Islands
|
||
(dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 150 km2; land area: 150 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 80 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 3 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
|
||
|
||
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: negligible
|
||
|
||
Land use: 20% arable land; 7% permanent crops; 33% meadows and pastures;
|
||
7% forest and woodland; 33% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July
|
||
to October
|
||
|
||
Note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 12,258 (July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 77 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--British Virgin Islander(s); adjective--British
|
||
Virgin Islander
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: over 90% black, remainder of white and Asian origin
|
||
|
||
Religion: majority Methodist; others include Anglican, Church of God,
|
||
Seventh-Day Adventist, Baptist, and Roman Catholic
|
||
|
||
Language: English (official)
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 98%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 4,911 (1980)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: NA
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: dependent territory of the UK
|
||
|
||
Capital: Road Town
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
|
||
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 1 June 1977
|
||
|
||
Legal system: English law
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief minister,
|
||
Executive Council (cabinet)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by
|
||
Governor John Mark Ambrose HERDMAN (since NA 1986);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA 1986)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: United Party (UP), Conrad Maduro;
|
||
Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity Stoutt; Independent
|
||
People's Movement (IPM), Cyril B. Romney
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
Legislative Council--last held 30 September 1986 (next to be
|
||
held by September 1991); results--percent of vote by party NA;
|
||
seats--(9 total) UP 2, VIP 5, IPM 2
|
||
|
||
Communists: probably none
|
||
|
||
Member of: Commonwealth
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
|
||
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
|
||
the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the
|
||
coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical
|
||
column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word
|
||
VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The economy is highly dependent on the tourist industry,
|
||
which generates about 21% of the national income. In 1985 the government
|
||
offered offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in
|
||
the islands, and, in consequence, incorporation fees generated about $2 million
|
||
in 1987. Livestock raising is the most significant agricultural activity. The
|
||
islands' crops, limited by poor soils, are unable to meet food requirements.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $106.7 million, per capita $8,900; real growth rate 2.5% (1987)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (January 1987)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: NA%
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $26.2 million; expenditures $25.4 million,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $2.3 million (f.o.b., 1985); commodities--rum, fresh fish,
|
||
gravel, sand, fruits, animals; partners--Virgin Islands (US),
|
||
Puerto Rico, US
|
||
|
||
Imports: $72.0 million (c.i.f., 1985); commodities--building
|
||
materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery; partners--Virgin Islands
|
||
(US), Puerto Rico, US
|
||
|
||
External debt: $4.5 million (1985)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate - 4.0% (1985)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 13,500 kW capacity; 59 million kWh produced,
|
||
4,870 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block,
|
||
offshore financial center
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables
|
||
|
||
Aid: NA
|
||
|
||
Currency: US currency is used
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: US currency is used
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 106 km motorable roads (1983)
|
||
|
||
Ports: Road Town
|
||
|
||
Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways
|
||
less than 1,220 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: 3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone
|
||
service; submarine cable communication links to Bermuda; stations--1 AM,
|
||
no FM, 1 TV
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
|
||
.pa
|
||
Brunei
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 5,770 km2; land area: 5,270 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly larger than Delaware
|
||
|
||
Land boundary: 381 km with Malaysia
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 161 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides
|
||
the country
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
|
||
|
||
Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland
|
||
in west
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, timber
|
||
|
||
Land use: 1% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures;
|
||
79% forest and woodland; 18% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
|
||
|
||
Note: close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking
|
||
Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost
|
||
an enclave of Malaysia
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 372,108 (July 1990), growth rate 7.1% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 23 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 52 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 77 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Bruneian(s); adjective--Bruneian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 64% Malay, 20% Chinese, 16% other
|
||
|
||
Religion: 60% Muslim (official); 8% Christian; 32% Buddhist and
|
||
indigenous beliefs
|
||
|
||
Language: Malay (official), English, and Chinese
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 45%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 89,000 (includes members of the Army); 33% of labor
|
||
force is foreign (1988); 50.4% production of oil, natural gas, and
|
||
construction; 47.6% trade, services, and other; 2.0% agriculture,
|
||
forestry, and fishing (1984)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 2% of labor force
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Negara Brunei Darussalam
|
||
|
||
Type: constitutional sultanate
|
||
|
||
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular--daerah);
|
||
Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
|
||
|
||
Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended
|
||
under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since
|
||
independence on 1 January 1984)
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on Islamic law
|
||
|
||
National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: sultan, prime minister, Council of Cabinet Ministers
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council
|
||
(Majlis Masyuarat Megeri)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government--Sultan and Prime Minister Sir Muda
|
||
HASSANAL BOLKIAH Muizzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Brunei National United Party
|
||
(inactive), Anak Hasanuddin, chairman; Brunei National Democratic Party
|
||
(the first legal political party and now banned) Abdul Latif
|
||
bin Abdul Hamid, chairman
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: none
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
Legislative Council--last held in March 1962; in 1970
|
||
the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the sultan
|
||
and no elections are planned
|
||
|
||
Communists: probably none
|
||
|
||
Member of: ASEAN, ESCAP (associate member), IMO, INTERPOL, OIC, UN
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dato Paduka Haji MOHAMED SUNI
|
||
bin Haji Idris; Chancery at 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037;
|
||
telephone (202) 342-0159; US--Ambassador Christopher H. PHILLIPS;
|
||
Embassy at Teck Guan Plaza (corner of Jalan McArthur), Bandar Seri
|
||
Begawan (mailing address is P. O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan);
|
||
telephone <20>673<37> (2) 29670
|
||
|
||
Flag: yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width)
|
||
and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is
|
||
superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of
|
||
a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two
|
||
upraised hands
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic
|
||
entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and
|
||
village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of
|
||
crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector
|
||
accounting for more than 70% of GDP. Per capita GDP of $9,600
|
||
is among the highest in the Third World, and substantial income from
|
||
overseas investment supplements domestic production. The government
|
||
provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $3.3 billion, per capita $9,600; real growth rate
|
||
2.5% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment: 2.5%, shortage of skilled labor (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $1.2 billion (1987); expenditures $1.6 billion,
|
||
including capital expenditures of NA (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $2.07 billion (f.o.b., 1987);
|
||
commodities--crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products;
|
||
partners--Japan 55% (1986)
|
||
|
||
Imports: $800 million (c.i.f., 1987);
|
||
commodities--machinery and transport equipment, manufactured
|
||
goods; food, beverages, tobacco; consumer goods;
|
||
partners--Singapore 31%, US 20%, Japan 6% (1986)
|
||
|
||
External debt: none
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 310,000 kW capacity; 890 million kWh produced,
|
||
2,580 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: petroleum, liquefied natural gas, construction
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: imports about 80% of its food needs; principal crops
|
||
and livestock include rice, cassava, bananas, buffaloes, and pigs
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $20.6 million;
|
||
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
|
||
(1970-87), $143.7 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Bruneian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Bruneian dollar
|
||
(B$) = 100 cents
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1--1.8895 (January 1990),
|
||
1.9503 (1989), 2.0124 (1988), 2.1060 (1987), 2.1774 (1986), 2.2002 (1985);
|
||
note--the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 13 km 0.610-meter narrow-gauge private line
|
||
|
||
Highways: 1,090 km total; 370 km paved (bituminous treated) and another
|
||
52 km under construction, 720 km gravel or unimproved
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 meters
|
||
|
||
Ports: Kuala Belait, Muara
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 7 liquefied gas carriers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
|
||
348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: crude oil, 135 km; refined products, 418 km;
|
||
natural gas, 920 km
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft (3 Boeing 757-200,
|
||
1 Boeing 737-200)
|
||
|
||
Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with
|
||
runway over 3,659 m; 1 with runway 1,406 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: service throughout country is adequate for present
|
||
needs; international service good to adjacent Malaysia; radiobroadcast coverage
|
||
good; 33,000 telephones (1987); stations--4 AM/FM, 1 TV; 74,000 radio receivers
|
||
(1987); satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific
|
||
Ocean INTELSAT
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Royal Brunei Armed Forces, including air wing, navy, and ground
|
||
forces; British Gurkha Battalion; Royal Brunei Police; Gurkha Reserve Unit
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 104,398; 60,242 fit for military service;
|
||
3,106 reach military age (18) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: $197.6 million, 17% of central government budget
|
||
(FY86)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Bulgaria
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 110,910 km2; land area: 110,550 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 1,881 km total; Greece 494 km, Romania 608 km,
|
||
Turkey 240 km, Yugoslavia 539 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 354 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Contiguous zone: 24 nm;
|
||
|
||
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: Macedonia question with Greece and Yugoslavia
|
||
|
||
Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and south
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber,
|
||
arable land
|
||
|
||
Land use: 34% arable land; 3% permanent crops; 18% meadows and pastures;
|
||
35% forest and woodland; 10% other; includes 11% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: subject to earthquakes, landslides; deforestation;
|
||
air pollution
|
||
|
||
Note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key
|
||
land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 8,933,544 (July 1990), growth rate - 0.3% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: - 4 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 13 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 76 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Bulgarian(s); adjective--Bulgarian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 85.3% Bulgarian, 8.5% Turk, 2.6% Gypsy, 2.5%
|
||
Macedonian, 0.3% Armenian, 0.2% Russian, 0.6% other
|
||
|
||
Religion: religious background of population is 85% Bulgarian
|
||
Orthodox, 13% Muslim, 0.8% Jewish, 0.7% Roman Catholic, 0.5%
|
||
Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other
|
||
|
||
Language: Bulgarian; secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic
|
||
breakdown
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 95% (est.)
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 4,300,000; 33% industry, 20% agriculture, 47% other (1987)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: all workers are members of the Central Council of
|
||
Trade Unions (CCTU); Pod Krepa (Support), an independent trade union,
|
||
legally registered in January 1990
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: People's Republic of Bulgaria
|
||
|
||
Type: Communist state, but democratic elections planned for 1990
|
||
|
||
Capital: Sofia
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (oblasti, singular--oblast)
|
||
and 1 city* (grad); Burgas, Grad Sofiya*, Khaskovo, Lovech, Mikhaylovgrad,
|
||
Plovdiv, Razgrad, Sofiya, Varna
|
||
|
||
Independence: 22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 16 May 1971, effective 18 May 1971
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on civil law system, with Soviet law influence;
|
||
judicial review of legislative acts in the State Council; has accepted
|
||
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Anniversary of the Socialist Revolution in Bulgaria,
|
||
9 September (1944)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, chairman of the Council of Ministers,
|
||
four deputy chairmen of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Narodno Sobranyie)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--President Petur Toshev MLADENOV (chairman of
|
||
the State Council since 11 November 1989; became president
|
||
on 3 April 1990 when the State Council was abolished);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Chairman of the Council of Ministers
|
||
Andrey LUKANOV (since 3 February 1990); Deputy Chairman of the
|
||
Council of Ministers Chudomir Asenov ALEKSANDROV (since 8 February
|
||
1990); Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Belcho Antonov BELCHEV
|
||
(since 8 February 1990); Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers
|
||
Konstantin Dimitrov KOSEV (since 8 February 1990); Deputy Chairman of
|
||
the Council of Ministers Nora Krachunova ANANIEVA (since 8 February 1990)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Bulgarian Communist Party (BKP),
|
||
Aleksandur Lilov, chairman; Bulgarian National Agrarian
|
||
Union (BZNS), Angel Angelov Dimitrov, secretary of Permanent Board;
|
||
Bulgarian Social Democratic Party, Petur Dentlieu; Green Party;
|
||
Christian Democrats; Radical Democratic Party; others forming
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
Chairman of the State Council--last held 17 June 1986
|
||
(next to be held 10 and 17 June 1990);
|
||
results--Todor Zhivkov reelected but was replaced by
|
||
Petur Toshev Mladenov on 11 November 1989;
|
||
|
||
National Assembly--last held 8 June 1986 (next to be held
|
||
10 and 17 June 1990); results--percent of vote by party NA;
|
||
seats--(400 total) BKP 276, BZNS 99, others 25
|
||
|
||
Communists: 932,055 party members (April 1986)
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Union of Democratic Forces
|
||
(umbrella organization for opposition groups); Ecoglenost, Podkrepa
|
||
Independent Trade Union, Fatherland Front, Communist Youth Union, Central
|
||
Council of Trade Unions, National Committee for Defense of
|
||
Peace, Union of Fighters Against Fascism and Capitalism, Committee
|
||
of Bulgarian Women, All-National Committee for Bulgarian-Soviet
|
||
Friendship; Union of Democratic Forces, a coalition of about a
|
||
dozen dissident groups; numerous regional and national interest
|
||
groups with various agendas
|
||
|
||
Member of: CCC, CEMA, FAO, IAEA, IBEC, ICAO, ILO, ILZSG, IMO,
|
||
IPU, ITC, ITU, IWC--International Wheat Council, UN, UNESCO, UPU,
|
||
Warsaw Pact, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Velichko Filipov VELICHKOV;
|
||
Chancery at 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 387-7969;
|
||
US--Ambassador Sol POLANSKY; Embassy at 1 Alexander Stamboliski Boulevard,
|
||
Sofia (mailing address is APO New York 09213); telephone <20>359<35> (2) 88-48-01
|
||
through 05
|
||
|
||
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red with the
|
||
national emblem on the hoist side of the white stripe; the emblem contains a
|
||
rampant lion within a wreath of wheat ears below a red five-pointed star and
|
||
above a ribbon bearing the dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and
|
||
1944 (liberation from Nazi control)
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Growth in the sluggish Bulgarian economy fell to the
|
||
2% annual level in the 1980s, and by 1989 Sofia's foreign debt had
|
||
skyrocketed to $10 billion--giving a debt service ratio of more
|
||
than 40% of hard currency earnings. The post-Zhivkov regime
|
||
faces major problems of renovating an aging industrial plant,
|
||
keeping abreast of rapidly unfolding technological developments,
|
||
investing in additional energy capacity (the portion of electric
|
||
power from nuclear energy reached 37% in 1988), and motivating workers,
|
||
in part by giving them a share in the earnings of their enterprises.
|
||
A major decree of January 1989 summarized and extended
|
||
the government's economic restructuring efforts, which include a partial
|
||
decentralization of controls over production decisions and foreign trade.
|
||
The new regime promises more extensive reforms and eventually a market
|
||
economy. But the ruling group cannot (so far) bring itself to give
|
||
up ultimate control over economic affairs exercised through the vertical
|
||
Party/ministerial command structure. Reforms have not
|
||
led to improved economic performance, in particular the provision of more
|
||
and better consumer goods. A further blow to the economy was the exodus
|
||
of 310,000 ethnic Turks in mid-1989, which caused temporary shortages
|
||
of skilled labor in glassware, aluminum, and other industrial plants
|
||
and in tobacco fields.
|
||
|
||
GNP: $51.2 billion, per capita $5,710; real growth rate - 0.1%
|
||
(1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: NA%
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $26 billion; expenditures $28 billion,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $NA billion (1988)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $20.3 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--machinery and equipment 60.5%; agricultural products 14.7%;
|
||
manufactured consumer goods 10.6%; fuels, minerals, raw materials, and metals
|
||
8.5%; other 5.7%;
|
||
partners--Socialist countries 82.5% (USSR 61%, GDR 5.5%, Czechoslovakia
|
||
4.9%); developed countries 6.8% (FRG 1.2%, Greece 1.0%); less developed
|
||
countries 10.7% (Libya 3.5%, Iraq 2.9%)
|
||
|
||
Imports: $21.0 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--fuels, minerals, and raw materials 45.2%; machinery and
|
||
equipment 39.8%; manufactured consumer goods 4.6%; agricultural products 3.8%;
|
||
other 6.6%;
|
||
partners--Socialist countries 80.5% (USSR 57.5%, GDR 5.7%), developed
|
||
countries 15.1% (FRG 4.8%, Austria 1.6%); less developed countries 4.4%
|
||
(Libya 1.0%, Brazil 0.9%)
|
||
|
||
External debt: $10 billion (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 0.9% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 11,500,000 kW capacity; 45,000 million kWh produced,
|
||
5,000 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: food processing, machine and metal building,
|
||
electronics, chemicals
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GNP; climate and soil conditions support
|
||
livestock raising and the growing of various grain crops, oilseeds, vegetables,
|
||
fruits and tobacco; more than one-third of the arable land devoted to grain;
|
||
world's fourth-largest tobacco exporter; surplus food producer
|
||
|
||
Aid: donor--$1.6 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed
|
||
countries (1956-88)
|
||
|
||
Currency: lev (plural--leva); 1 lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: leva (Lv) per US$1--0.84 (1989), 0.82 (1988),
|
||
0.90 (1987), 0.95 (1986), 1.03 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 4,294 km total, all government owned (1986); 4,049 km
|
||
1.435-meter standard gauge, 245 km narrow gauge; 908 km double track; 2,342 km
|
||
electrified
|
||
|
||
Highways: 37,397 km total; 33,352 km hard surface (including 228 km
|
||
superhighways); 4,045 km earth roads (1986)
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 470 km (1986)
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: crude, 193 km; refined product, 418 km; natural gas, 1,400 km
|
||
(1986)
|
||
|
||
Ports: Burgas, Varna, Varna West; river ports are Ruse, Vidin, and Lom
|
||
on the Danube
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 108 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 1,240,204
|
||
GRT/1,872,723 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 32 cargo, 2 container,
|
||
1 passenger-cargo training, 5 roll-on/roll-off, 16 petroleum, oils, and
|
||
lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 railcar carriers, 48 bulk
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 65 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 380 total, 380 usable; about 120 with permanent-surface
|
||
runways; 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 20 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: stations--15 AM, 16 FM, 13 TV; 1 Soviet TV relay;
|
||
2,100,000 TV sets; 2,100,000 radio receivers; at least 1 satellite earth
|
||
station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Bulgarian People's Army, Bulgarian Navy, Air and Air
|
||
Defense Forces, Frontier Troops
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 2,177,404; 1,823,111 fit for military
|
||
service; 66,744 reach military age (19) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 1.6051 billion leva (1989);
|
||
note--conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the official
|
||
administratively set exchange rate would produce misleading results
|
||
.pa
|
||
Burkina
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 274,200 km2; land area: 273,800 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly larger than Colorado
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 3,192 km total; Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km,
|
||
Ivory Coast 584 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Disputes: the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was
|
||
submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the
|
||
ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept;
|
||
Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the
|
||
tripoint with Niger
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and
|
||
southeast
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits
|
||
of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc,
|
||
silver
|
||
|
||
Land use: 10% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 37% meadows and
|
||
pastures; 26% forest and woodland; 27% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: recent droughts and desertification severely affecting
|
||
marginal agricultural activities, population distribution, economy;
|
||
overgrazing; deforestation
|
||
|
||
Note: landlocked
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 9,077,828 (July 1990), growth rate 3.1% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 50 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 121 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 51 years male, 52 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 7.2 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Burkinabe; adjective--Burkinabe
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: more than 50 tribes; principal tribe is Mossi (about
|
||
2.5 million); other important groups are Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande,
|
||
and Fulani
|
||
|
||
Religion: 65% indigenous beliefs, about 25% Muslim, 10% Christian (mainly
|
||
Roman Catholic)
|
||
|
||
Language: French (official); tribal languages belong to Sudanic family,
|
||
spoken by 90% of the population
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 13.2%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 3,300,000 residents; 30,000 are wage earners;
|
||
82% agriculture, 13% industry, 5% commerce, services, and government; 20% of
|
||
male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal
|
||
employment (1984); 44% of population of working age (1985)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: four principal trade union groups represent less than 1%
|
||
of population
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Burkina Faso
|
||
|
||
Type: military; established by coup on 4 August 1983
|
||
|
||
Capital: Ouagadougou
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba,
|
||
Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Kadiogo,
|
||
Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri,
|
||
Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili,
|
||
Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo
|
||
|
||
Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France; formerly Upper Volta)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: none; constitution of 27 November 1977 was abolished
|
||
following coup of 25 November 1980
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: chairman of the Popular Front, Council of Ministers
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
|
||
was dissolved on 25 November 1980
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Appeals Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government--Chairman of the
|
||
Popular Front Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: all political parties banned following
|
||
November 1980 coup
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: none
|
||
|
||
Elections: the National Assembly was dissolved 25 November 1980 and
|
||
no elections are scheduled
|
||
|
||
Communists: small Communist party front group; some sympathizers
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: committees for the defense of the
|
||
revolution, watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both
|
||
organizations and communities
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, EAMA, ECA, EIB (associate), Entente, FAO,
|
||
GATT, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
|
||
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITU, NAM, Niger River Commission, OAU, OCAM, OIC,
|
||
UN, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Paul Desire KABORE;
|
||
Chancery at 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
|
||
telephone (202) 332-5577 or 6895;
|
||
US--Ambassador David H. SHINN; Embassy at Avenue Raoul Follerau,
|
||
Ouagadougou (mailing address is B. P. 35, Ouagadougou);
|
||
telephone <20>226<32> 30-67-23 through 25
|
||
|
||
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow
|
||
five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina
|
||
has a high population density, few natural resources, and relatively infertile
|
||
soil. Economic development is hindered by a poor communications network within
|
||
a landlocked country. Agriculture provides about 40% of GDP and is
|
||
entirely of a subsistence nature. Industry, dominated by unprofitable
|
||
government-controlled corporations, accounted for 13% of GDP in 1985.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $1.43 billion, per capita $170; real growth rate 7.7% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: NA%
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $422 million; expenditures $516 million, including
|
||
capital expenditures of $25 million (1987)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $249 million (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--oilseeds, cotton, live animals, gold;
|
||
partners--EC 42% (France 30%, other 12%), Taiwan 17%,
|
||
Ivory Coast 15% (1985)
|
||
|
||
Imports: $591 million (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--grain, dairy products, petroleum, machinery;
|
||
partners--EC 37% (France 23%, other 14%), Africa 31%, US 15%
|
||
(1985)
|
||
|
||
External debt: $969 million (December 1988)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 7.1% (1985)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 121,000 kW capacity; 320 million kWh produced, 37 kWh per
|
||
capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: agricultural processing plants; brewery, cement, and brick
|
||
plants; a few other small consumer goods enterprises
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: cash crops--peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton; food
|
||
crops--sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock; not self-sufficient in food
|
||
grains
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $271 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $2.5 billion;
|
||
Communist countries (1970-88), $94 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural--francs);
|
||
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1--284.55 (January 1990),
|
||
319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 620 km total; 520 km Ouagadougou to Ivory Coast border and
|
||
100 km Ouagadougou to Kaya; all 1.00-meter gauge and single track
|
||
|
||
Highways: 16,500 km total; 1,300 km paved, 7,400 km improved, 7,800 km
|
||
unimproved (1985)
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 50 total, 43 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 7 with
|
||
runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: all services only fair; radio relay, wire, and radio
|
||
communication stations in use; 13,900 telephones; stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV;
|
||
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army, Air Force
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,775,143; 904,552 fit for military
|
||
service; no conscription
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 3.1% of GDP (1987)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Burma
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 678,500 km2; land area: 657,740 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 5,876 km total; Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km,
|
||
India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 1,930 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Contiguous zone: 24 nm;
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest
|
||
monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures,
|
||
lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)
|
||
|
||
Terrain: central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: crude oil, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper,
|
||
tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas
|
||
|
||
Land use: 15% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures;
|
||
49% forest and woodland; 34% other; includes 2% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: subject to destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding
|
||
and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); deforestation
|
||
|
||
Note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 41,277,389 (July 1990), growth rate 2.0% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 33 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 97 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 53 years male, 56 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 4.2 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Burmese; adjective--Burmese
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 68% Burman, 9% Shan, 7% Karen, 4% Rakhine, 3% Chinese,
|
||
2% Mon, 2% Indian, 5% other
|
||
|
||
Religion: 85% Buddhist, 15% animist beliefs, Muslim, Christian, or
|
||
other
|
||
|
||
Language: Burmese; minority ethnic groups have their own languages
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 78%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 16,036,000; 65.2% agriculture, 14.3% industry, 10.1% trade,
|
||
6.3% government, 4.1% other (FY89 est.)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: Workers' Asiayone (association), 1,800,000 members, and
|
||
Peasants' Asiayone, 7,600,000 members
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Union of Burma; note--the local official name is
|
||
Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw which has been translated as Union of Myanma
|
||
or Union of Myanmar
|
||
|
||
Type: military government
|
||
|
||
Capital: Rangoon (sometimes translated as Yangon)
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular--yin) and
|
||
7 states (pyine-mya, singular--pyine); Chin State, Irrawaddy*, Kachin State,
|
||
Karan State, Kayah State, Magwe*, Mandalay*, Mon State, Pegu*, Rakhine State,
|
||
Rangoon*, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tenasserim*
|
||
|
||
Independence: 4 January 1948 (from UK)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988)
|
||
|
||
Legal system: martial law in effect throughout most of the
|
||
country; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council,
|
||
State Law and Order Restoration Council
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Pyithu Hluttaw)
|
||
was dissolved after the coup of 18 September 1988
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Council of People's Justices was abolished after the
|
||
coup of 18 September 1988
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government--Chairman of the State Law and Order
|
||
Restoration Council and Prime Minister Gen. SAW MAUNG (since 18
|
||
September 1988)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: National League for Democracy,
|
||
U Tin Oo and Aung San Suu Kyi; League for Democracy and Peace, U Nu;
|
||
National Unity Party (promilitary); over 100 other parties
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
People's Assembly--last held 6-20 October 1985, but dissolved after
|
||
the coup of 18 September 1988; next scheduled 27 May 1990);
|
||
results--percent of vote by party NA;
|
||
seats--(NA total) number of seats by party NA
|
||
|
||
Communists: several hundred, est., primarily as an insurgent group
|
||
on the northeast frontier
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Kachin Independence Army; Karen
|
||
National Union, several Shan factions (all insurgent groups); Burmese
|
||
Communist Party (BCP)
|
||
|
||
Member of: ADB, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
|
||
IDA, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IRC, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador U MYO AUNG; Chancery at
|
||
2300 S Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-9044 through 9046;
|
||
there is a Burmese Consulate General in New York;
|
||
US--Ambassador Burton LEVIN; Embassy at 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon
|
||
(mailing address is G. P. O. Box 521, Rangoon or
|
||
Box B, APO San Francisco 96346); telephone 82055 or 82181
|
||
|
||
Flag: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing,
|
||
all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of
|
||
rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative divisions
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Burma is one of the poorest countries in Asia, with a per
|
||
capita GDP of about $280. The government reports negligible growth
|
||
for FY88. The nation has been unable to achieve any significant
|
||
improvement in export earnings because of falling prices for many
|
||
of its major commodity exports. For rice, traditionally the most important
|
||
export, the drop in world prices has been accompanied by shrinking markets
|
||
and a smaller volume of sales. In 1985 teak replaced rice as the largest export
|
||
and continues to hold this position. The economy is heavily dependent on the
|
||
agricultural sector, which generates about 40% of GDP and provides employment
|
||
for more than 65% of the work force.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $11.0 billion, per capita $280; real growth rate 0.2%
|
||
(FY88 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22.6% (FY89 est.)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 10.4% in urban areas (FY87)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $4.9 billion; expenditures $5.0 billion,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $0.7 billion (FY89 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $311 million (f.o.b., FY88 est.)
|
||
commodities--teak, rice, oilseed, metals, rubber, gems;
|
||
partners--Southeast Asia, India, China, EC, Africa
|
||
|
||
Imports: $536 million (c.i.f., FY88 est.)
|
||
commodities--machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, food products;
|
||
partners--Japan, EC, CEMA, China, Southeast Asia
|
||
|
||
External debt: $5.6 billion (December 1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate - 1.5% (FY88)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 950,000 kW capacity; 2,900 million kWh produced, 70 kWh
|
||
per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood and
|
||
wood products; petroleum refining; mining of copper, tin, tungsten, iron;
|
||
construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for about 40% of GDP (including fish and
|
||
forestry); self-sufficient in food; principal crops--paddy rice, corn,
|
||
oilseed, sugarcane, pulses; world's largest stand of hardwood trees;
|
||
rice and teak account for 55% of export revenues; 1985 fish catch of
|
||
644 million metric tons
|
||
|
||
Illicit drugs: world's largest illicit producer of opium poppy
|
||
and minor producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; opium
|
||
production is on the increase as growers respond to the collapse
|
||
of Rangoon's antinarcotic programs
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $158 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $3.8 billion;
|
||
Communist countries (1970-88), $424 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: kyat (plural--kyats); 1 kyat (K) = 100 pyas
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: kyats (K) per US$1--6.5188 (January 1990), 6.7049 (1989),
|
||
6.3945 (1988), 6.6535 (1987), 7.3304 (1986), 8.4749 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 3,991 km total, all government owned; 3,878 km 1.000-meter
|
||
gauge, 113 km narrow-gauge industrial lines; 362 km double track
|
||
|
||
Highways: 27,000 km total; 3,200 km bituminous, 17,700 km improved earth
|
||
or gravel, 6,100 km unimproved earth
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 12,800 km; 3,200 km navigable by large commercial
|
||
vessels
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: crude, 1,343 km; natural gas, 330 km
|
||
|
||
Ports: Rangoon, Moulmein, Bassein
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 595,814
|
||
GRT/955,924 DWT; includes 3 passenger-cargo, 15 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off,
|
||
1 vehicle carrier, 1 container, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
|
||
tanker, 5 chemical, 16 bulk
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 17 major transport aircraft (including 3 helicopters)
|
||
|
||
Airports: 88 total, 81 usable; 29 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 37
|
||
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: meets minimum requirements for local and intercity
|
||
service; international service is good; radiobroadcast coverage is limited to
|
||
the most populous areas; 53,000 telephones (1986); stations--2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV
|
||
(1985); 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: eligible 15-49, 20,294,848; of the 10,135,886 males
|
||
15-49, 5,438,196 are fit for military service; of the 10,158,962 females 15-49,
|
||
5,437,518 are fit for military service; 434,200 males and 423,435 females
|
||
reach military age (18) annually; both sexes are liable for military service
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: $315.0 million, 21.0% of central government budget
|
||
(FY88)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Burundi
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 27,830 km2; land area: 25,650 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 974 km total; Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km,
|
||
Zaire 233 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Climate: temperate; warm; occasional frost in uplands
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly rolling to hilly highland; some plains
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxide, peat, cobalt,
|
||
copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium
|
||
|
||
Land use: 43% arable land; 8% permanent crops; 35% meadows and pastures;
|
||
2% forest and woodland; 12% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: soil exhaustion; soil erosion; deforestation
|
||
|
||
Note: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 5,645,997 (July 1990), growth rate 3.2% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 47 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 111 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 54 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 7.0 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Burundian(s); adjective--Burundi
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: Africans--85% Hutu (Bantu), 14% Tutsi (Hamitic), 1%
|
||
Twa (Pygmy); other Africans include about 70,000 refugees, mostly Rwandans and
|
||
Zairians; non-Africans include about 3,000 Europeans and 2,000 South Asians
|
||
|
||
Religion: about 67% Christian (62% Roman Catholic, 5% Protestant), 32%
|
||
indigenous beliefs, 1% Muslim
|
||
|
||
Language: Kirundi and French (official); Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika
|
||
and in the Bujumbura area)
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 33.8%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 1,900,000 (1983 est.); 93.0% agriculture, 4.0% government,
|
||
1.5% industry and commerce, 1.5% services; 52% of population of working age
|
||
(1985)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: sole group is the Union of Burundi Workers (UTB); by
|
||
charter, membership is extended to all Burundi workers (informally); figures
|
||
denoting active membership unobtainable
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Republic of Burundi
|
||
|
||
Type: republic
|
||
|
||
Capital: Bujumbura
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi,
|
||
Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya,
|
||
Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
|
||
|
||
Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian
|
||
administration)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 20 November 1981; suspended following the coup of
|
||
3 September 1987
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and
|
||
customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, Military Committee for National Salvation,
|
||
prime minister, Council of Ministers
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
|
||
was dissolved following the coup of 3 September 1987
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--President Pierre BUYOYA (since 9 September 1987);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government Prime Minister Adrien SIBOMANA (since 26
|
||
October 1988)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: only party--National Party of
|
||
Unity and Progress (UPRONA), a Tutsi-led party, Libere Bararunyeretse,
|
||
coordinator of the National Permanent Secretariat
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal adult at age NA
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
National Assembly--dissolved after the coup of 3 September
|
||
1987; no elections are planned
|
||
|
||
Communists: no Communist party
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, EAMA, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICO,
|
||
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
|
||
WMO, WTO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Julien KAVAKURE; Chancery at
|
||
Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007;
|
||
telephone (202) 342-2574;
|
||
US--Ambassador Cynthia Shepherd PERRY; Embassy at Avenue du Zaire,
|
||
Bujumbura (mailing address is B. P. 1720, Bujumbura);
|
||
telephone 234-54 through 56
|
||
|
||
Flag: divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom)
|
||
and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disk superimposed at
|
||
the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a
|
||
triangular design (one star above, two stars below)
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: A landlocked, resource-poor country in an early stage
|
||
of economic development, Burundi is predominately agricultural with only
|
||
a few basic industries. Its economic health is dependent on the coffee crop,
|
||
which accounts for an average 90% of foreign exchange earnings each year.
|
||
The ability to pay for imports therefore continues to rest largely on the
|
||
vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $1.3 billion, per capita $255; real growth rate 2.8% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: NA%
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $213 million; expenditures $292 million,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $131 million (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $128 million (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--coffee 88%, tea, hides and skins;
|
||
partners--EC 83%, US 5%, Asia 2%
|
||
|
||
Imports: $204 million (c.i.f., 1988);
|
||
commodities--capital goods 31%, petroleum products 15%, foodstuffs,
|
||
consumer goods;
|
||
partners--EC 57%, Asia 23%, US 3%
|
||
|
||
External debt: $795 million (December 1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: real growth rate 5.1% (1986)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 51,000 kW capacity; 105 million kWh produced, 19 kWh per
|
||
capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly
|
||
of imports; public works construction; food processing
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 60% of GDP; 90% of population dependent on
|
||
subsistence farming; marginally self-sufficient in food production;
|
||
cash crops--coffee, cotton, tea; food crops--corn, sorghum, sweet
|
||
potatoes, bananas, manioc; livestock--meat, milk, hides, and skins
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $68 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $10 billion;
|
||
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $32 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
|
||
$175 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Burundi franc (plural--francs); 1 Burundi franc
|
||
(FBu) = 100 centimes
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1--176.20 (January 1990),
|
||
158.67 (1989), 140.40 (1988), 123.56 (1987), 114.17 (1986), 120.69 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 5,900 km total; 400 km paved, 2,500 km gravel or laterite,
|
||
3,000 km improved or unimproved earth
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: Lake Tanganyika
|
||
|
||
Ports: Bujumbura (lake port) connects to transportation systems of
|
||
Tanzania and Zaire
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 8 total, 7 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none
|
||
with runways 1,220 to 2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: sparse system of wire, radiocommunications, and
|
||
low-capacity radio relay links; 8,000 telephones; stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV;
|
||
1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army (includes naval and air units); paramilitary Gendarmerie
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,230,559; 642,927 fit for military
|
||
service; 61,418 reach military age (16) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 3.1% of GDP (1987)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Cambodia
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 181,040 km2; land area: 176,520 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Oklahoma
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 2,572 km total; Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km,
|
||
Vietnam 1,228 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 443 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Contiguous zone: 24 nm;
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: offshore islands and three sections of the
|
||
boundary with Vietnam are in dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam
|
||
not defined; occupied by Vietnam on 25 December 1978
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to October); dry season
|
||
(December to March); little seasonal temperature variation
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,
|
||
phosphates, hydropower potential
|
||
|
||
Land use: 16% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 3% meadows and pastures;
|
||
76% forest and woodland; 4% other; includes 1% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: a land of paddies and forests dominated by Mekong River
|
||
and Tonle Sap
|
||
|
||
Note: buffer between Thailand and Vietnam
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 6,991,107 (July 1990), growth rate 2.2% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 39 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 128 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 47 years male, 50 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 4.5 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Cambodian(s); adjective--Cambodian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 90% Khmer (Cambodian), 5% Chinese, 5% other minorities
|
||
|
||
Religion: 95% Theravada Buddhism, 5% other
|
||
|
||
Language: Khmer (official), French
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 48%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 2.5-3.0 million; 80% agriculture (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: Kampuchea Federation of Trade Unions (FSC); under
|
||
government control
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: disputed between the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea
|
||
(CGDK) led by Prince NORODOM SIHANOUK and the People's Republic of Kampuchea
|
||
(PRK) led by HENG SAMRIN
|
||
|
||
Capital: Phnom Penh
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (khet, singular and plural) and
|
||
1 autonomous municipality* (rottatheanei, singular and plural);
|
||
Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe,
|
||
Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Kracheh,
|
||
Mondol Kiri, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear,
|
||
Prey Veng, Rotanokiri, Siemreab-Otdar Meanchey,
|
||
Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev; note--there may be a new province of
|
||
Banteay Meanchey and Siemreab-Otdar Meanchey may have been
|
||
divided into two provinces named Siemreab and Otdar Meanchey
|
||
|
||
Independence: 9 November 1953 (from France)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 27 June 1981
|
||
|
||
National holidays: CGDK--Independence Day, 17 April (1975);
|
||
PRK--Liberation Day, 7 January (1979)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: CGDK--president, prime minister; PRK--chairman of the
|
||
Council of State, Council of State, chairman of the Council of Ministers,
|
||
Council of Ministers
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: CGDK--none; PRK--unicameral National Assembly
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: CGDK--none; PRK--Supreme People's Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--CGDK--President Prince NORODOM SIHANOUK
|
||
(since NA July 1982); PRK--Chairman of the Council of State HENG SAMRIN
|
||
(since 27 June 1981);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--CGDK--Prime Minister SON SANN (since NA July
|
||
1982);
|
||
PRK--Chairman of the Council of Ministers HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: CGDK--three resistance groups including
|
||
Democratic Kampuchea (DK, also known as the Khmer Rouge) under Khieu Samphan,
|
||
Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) under Son Sann, and National
|
||
United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia
|
||
(FUNCINPEC) under Prince Norodom Sihanouk; PRK--Kampuchean People's
|
||
Revolutionary Party (KPRP) led by Heng Samrin
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
CGDK--none;
|
||
|
||
PRK--National Assembly--last held 1 May 1981; in February 1986 the
|
||
Assembly voted to extend its term for five years (next to be
|
||
held by March 1990); results--KPRP is the only party;
|
||
seats--(123 total) KPRP 123
|
||
|
||
Member of: ADB, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IAEA,
|
||
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IRC, ITU, Mekong Committee
|
||
(inactive), NAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO for CGDK; none for PRK
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: none
|
||
|
||
Flag:
|
||
CGDK--red with the yellow silhouette of a stylized three-towered temple
|
||
representing Angkor Wat in the center;
|
||
|
||
Non-Communists--three horizontal bands of blue, red (double width),
|
||
and blue with a white stylized temple representing Angkor Wat centered on
|
||
the red band;
|
||
|
||
PRK--red with the yellow silhouette of a stylized five-towered temple
|
||
representing Angkor Wat in the center
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Cambodia is a desperately poor country whose economic
|
||
development has been stymied by deadly political infighting. The
|
||
economy is based on agriculture and related industries. Over the
|
||
past decade Cambodia has been slowly recovering from its near destruction
|
||
by war and political upheaval. It still remains, however, one of the
|
||
world's poorest countries, with an estimated per capita GDP of about
|
||
$130. The food situation is precarious; during the 1980s famine has
|
||
been averted only through international relief. In 1986 the production level
|
||
of rice, the staple food crop, was able to meet only 80% of domestic needs. The
|
||
biggest success of the nation's recovery program has been in new rubber
|
||
plantings and in fishing. Industry, other than rice processing, is
|
||
almost nonexistent. Foreign trade is primarily with the USSR and Vietnam.
|
||
Statistical data on the economy continues to be sparse and unreliable.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $890 million, per capita $130; real growth rate 0% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: NA%
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of
|
||
$NA
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
|
||
|
||
Exports: $32 million (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--natural rubber, rice, pepper, wood;
|
||
partners--Vietnam, USSR, Eastern Europe, Japan, India
|
||
|
||
Imports: $147 million (c.i.f., 1988);
|
||
commodities--international food aid; fuels, consumer goods;
|
||
partners--Vietnam, USSR, Eastern Europe, Japan, India
|
||
|
||
External debt: $600 million (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 126,000 kW capacity; 150 million kWh produced,
|
||
21 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber,
|
||
cement, gem mining
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: mainly subsistence farming except for rubber plantations;
|
||
main crops--rice, rubber, corn; food shortages--rice, meat, vegetables, dairy
|
||
products, sugar, flour
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $719 million;
|
||
Western (non-US) countries (1970-85), $270 million; Communist countries
|
||
(1970-88), $950 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: riel (plural--riels); 1 riel (CR) = 100 sen
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: riels (CR) per US$1--218 (November 1989)
|
||
100.00 (1987), 30.00 (1986), 7.00 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 612 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned
|
||
|
||
Highways: 13,351 km total; 2,622 km bituminous; 7,105 km crushed stone,
|
||
gravel, or improved earth; 3,624 km unimproved earth; some roads in disrepair
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6
|
||
meters; 282 km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 meters
|
||
|
||
Ports: Kampong Saom, Phnom Penh
|
||
|
||
Airports: 22 total, 9 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
|
||
4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: service barely adequate for government requirements
|
||
and virtually nonexistent for general public; international service limited to
|
||
Vietnam and other adjacent countries; stations--1 AM, no FM, 1 TV
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: PRK--People's Republic of Kampuchea Armed Forces;
|
||
Communist resistance forces--National Army of Democratic Kampuchea
|
||
(Khmer Rouge); non-Communist resistance forces--Sihanoukist National
|
||
Army (ANS) and Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF)
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,857,129; 1,025,456 fit for military
|
||
service; 61,649 reach military age (18) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: NA
|
||
.pa
|
||
Cameroon
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 475,440 km2; land area: 469,440 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly larger than California
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 4,591 km total; Central African Republic 797 km,
|
||
Chad 1,094 km, Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km,
|
||
Nigeria 1,690 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 402 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: not specific;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 50 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: exact locations of the Chad-Niger-Nigeria and
|
||
Cameroon-Chad-Nigeria tripoints in Lake Chad have not been determined, so the
|
||
boundary has not been demarcated and border incidents have resulted; Nigerian
|
||
proposals to reopen maritime boundary negotiations and redemarcate the entire
|
||
land boundary have been rejected by Cameroon
|
||
|
||
Climate: varies with terrain from tropical along coast to semiarid
|
||
and hot in north
|
||
|
||
Terrain: diverse with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau
|
||
in center, mountains in west, plains in north
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: crude oil, bauxite, iron ore, timber,
|
||
hydropower potential
|
||
|
||
Land use: 13% arable land; 2% permanent crops; 18% meadows and pastures;
|
||
54% forest and woodland; 13% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases;
|
||
deforestation; overgrazing; desertification
|
||
|
||
Note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 11,092,470 (July 1990), growth rate 2.7% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 42 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 120 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 49 years male, 53 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 5.7 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Cameroonian(s); adjective--Cameroonian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: over 200 tribes of widely differing background; 31%
|
||
Cameroon Highlanders, 19% Equatorial Bantu, 11% Kirdi, 10% Fulani, 8%
|
||
Northwestern Bantu, 7% Eastern Nigritic, 13% other African, less than 1%
|
||
non-African
|
||
|
||
Religion: 51% indigenous beliefs, 33% Christian, 16% Muslim
|
||
|
||
Language: English and French (official), 24 major African language groups
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 56.2%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: NA; 74.4% agriculture, 11.4% industry and transport,
|
||
14.2% other services (1983); 50% of population of working age (15-64 years)
|
||
(1985)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: under 45% of wage labor force
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Republic of Cameroon
|
||
|
||
Type: unitary republic; one-party presidential regime
|
||
|
||
Capital: Yaounde
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est,
|
||
Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
|
||
|
||
Independence: 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under
|
||
French administration; formerly French Cameroon)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 20 May 1972
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on French civil law system, with common law
|
||
influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: National Day, 20 May (1972)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government President Paul BIYA (since
|
||
6 November 1982)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: only party--Cameroon People's
|
||
Democratic Movement (RDPC), Paul Biya, president
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 21
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held 24 April 1988 (next to be held April 1993);
|
||
results--President Paul Biya reelected without opposition;
|
||
|
||
National Assembly--last held 24 April 1988 (next to be
|
||
held April 1993);
|
||
results--RDPC is the only party;
|
||
seats--(180 total) RDPC 180
|
||
|
||
Communists: no Communist party or significant number of sympathizers
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: Cameroon People's Union (UPC),
|
||
remains an illegal group with its factional leaders in exile
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, EAMA, ECA, EIB (associate), FAO, G-77, GATT,
|
||
IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC,
|
||
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ISO, ITU, Lake Chad Basin Commission,
|
||
NAM, Niger River Commission, OAU, OIC, UDEAC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
|
||
WTO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Paul PONDI; Chancery at
|
||
2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 265-8790
|
||
through 8794;
|
||
US--Ambassador Frances COOK; Embassy at Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
|
||
(mailing address is B. P. 817, Yaounde); telephone <20>237<33> 234014; there is a
|
||
US Consulate General in Douala
|
||
|
||
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow
|
||
with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular
|
||
pan-African colors of Ethiopia
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Over the past decade the economy has registered a remarkable
|
||
performance because of the development of an offshore oil industry. Real
|
||
GDP growth annually averaged 10% from 1978 to 1985. In 1986 Cameroon had one of
|
||
the highest levels of income per capita in tropical Africa, with oil revenues
|
||
picking up the slack as growth in other sectors softened. Because of the sharp
|
||
drop in oil prices, however, the economy is now experiencing serious budgetary
|
||
difficulties and balance-of-payments disequalibrium. Oil reserves currently
|
||
being exploited will be depleted in the early 1990s, so ways must be found to
|
||
boost agricultural and industrial exports in the medium term. The Sixth
|
||
Cameroon Development Plan (1986-91) stresses balanced development and designates
|
||
agriculture as the basis of the country's economic future.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $12.9 billion, per capita $955; real growth rate - 8.6% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.6% (FY88)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 7% (1985)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $2.17 billion; expenditures $2.17 billion,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $833 million (FY88)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $2.0 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--petroleum products 56%, coffee, cocoa, timber, manufactures;
|
||
partners--EC (particularly the Netherlands) about 50%, US 3%
|
||
|
||
Imports: $2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1988);
|
||
commodities--machines and electrical equipment, transport equipment,
|
||
chemical products, consumer goods;
|
||
partners--France 42%, Japan 7%, US 4%
|
||
|
||
External debt: $4.9 billion (December 1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate - 6.4% (FY87)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 752,000 kW capacity; 2,940 million kWh produced,
|
||
270 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: crude oil products, small aluminum plant, food processing,
|
||
light consumer goods industries, sawmills
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: the agriculture and forestry sectors provide employment for
|
||
the majority of the population, contributing nearly 25% to GDP and
|
||
providing a high degree of self-sufficiency in staple foods; commercial and
|
||
food crops include coffee, cocoa, timber, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed,
|
||
grains, livestock, root starches
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $400 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $3.9 billion;
|
||
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $29 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
|
||
$120 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural--francs);
|
||
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
|
||
US$1--287.99 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987),
|
||
346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 1,003 km total; 858 km 1.000-meter gauge, 145 km 0.600-meter
|
||
gauge
|
||
|
||
Highways: about 65,000 km total; includes 2,682 km bituminous,
|
||
30,000 km unimproved earth, 32,318 km gravel, earth, and improved earth
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 2,090 km; of decreasing importance
|
||
|
||
Ports: Douala
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
|
||
24,122 GRT/33,509 DWT
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 61 total, 54 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 22 with
|
||
runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: good system of open wire, cable, troposcatter, and
|
||
radio relay; 26,000 telephones; stations--10 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean
|
||
INTELSAT earth stations
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force; paramilitary Gendarmerie
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 2,553,867; 1,286,831 fit for military
|
||
service; 121,773 reach military age (18) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 1.7% of GDP, or $219 million (1990 est.)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Canada
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 9,976,140 km2; land area: 9,220,970 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly larger than US
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 8,893 km with US (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 243,791 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: maritime boundary disputes with France (St. Pierre and Miquelon)
|
||
and US
|
||
|
||
Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
|
||
|
||
Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash,
|
||
silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, crude oil, natural gas
|
||
|
||
Land use: 5% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 3% meadows and pastures;
|
||
35% forest and woodland; 57% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: 80% of population concentrated within 160 km of US border;
|
||
continuous permafrost in north a serious obstacle to development
|
||
|
||
Note: second-largest country in world (after USSR); strategic
|
||
location between USSR and US via north polar route
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 26,538,229 (July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Canadian(s); adjective--Canadian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 40% British Isles origin, 27% French origin, 20% other
|
||
European, 1.5% indigenous Indian and Eskimo
|
||
|
||
Religion: 46% Roman Catholic, 16% United Church, 10% Anglican
|
||
|
||
Language: English and French (both official)
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 99%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 13,380,000; services 75%, manufacturing 14%, agriculture 4%,
|
||
construction 3%, other 4% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 30.6% of labor force; 39.6% of nonagricultural paid
|
||
workers
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: confederation with parliamentary democracy
|
||
|
||
Capital: Ottawa
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 2 territories*; Alberta,
|
||
British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland,
|
||
Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
|
||
Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
|
||
|
||
Independence: 1 July 1867 (from UK)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: amended British North America Act 1867 patriated to
|
||
Canada 17 April 1982; charter of rights and unwritten customs
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil
|
||
law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
|
||
with reservations
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister,
|
||
deputy prime minister, Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house
|
||
or Senate and a lower house or House of Commons
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented
|
||
by Governor General Raymond John HNATSHYN (since 29 January
|
||
1990);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Prime Minister (Martin) Brian MULRONEY (since
|
||
4 September 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Donald Frank MAZANKOWSKI (since
|
||
NA June 1986)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: Progressive Conservative, Brian Mulroney;
|
||
Liberal, John Turner; New Democratic, Audrey McLaughlin
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
House of Commons--last held 21 November 1988 (next to be
|
||
held by November 1993);
|
||
results--Progressive Conservative 43.0%, Liberal 32%,
|
||
New Democratic Party 20%, other 5%;
|
||
seats--(295 total) Progressive Conservative 170, Liberal 82, New
|
||
Democratic Party 43
|
||
|
||
Communists: 3,000
|
||
|
||
Member of: ADB, CCC, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth, DAC, FAO, GATT, IAEA,
|
||
IBRD, ICAO, ICES, ICO, IDA, IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IEA,
|
||
IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ISO, ITC,
|
||
ITU, IWC--International Whaling Commission, IWC--International Wheat
|
||
Council, NATO, OAS, OECD, PAHO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
|
||
WSG
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Derek BURNEY; Chancery at
|
||
1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202) 785-1400;
|
||
there are Canadian Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago,
|
||
Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia,
|
||
San Francisco, and Seattle;
|
||
US--Ambassador Edward N. NEY; Embassy at 100 Wellington Street,
|
||
K1P 5T1, Ottawa (mailing address is P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669);
|
||
telephone (613) 238-5335; there are US Consulates General in Calgary, Halifax,
|
||
Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver
|
||
|
||
Flag: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width,
|
||
square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada
|
||
today closely resembles the US in per capita output, market-oriented
|
||
economic system, and pattern of production. Since World War II the
|
||
impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has
|
||
transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily
|
||
industrial and urban. In the 1980s Canada registered one of the highest
|
||
rates of growth among the OECD nations, averaging about 4%. With its
|
||
great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant,
|
||
Canada has excellent economic prospects. In mid-1990, however, the
|
||
long-simmering problems between English- and French-speaking areas
|
||
became so acute that observers spoke openly of a possible split in the
|
||
confederation; foreign investors were becoming edgy.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $513.6 billion, per capita $19,600; real growth rate
|
||
2.9% (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.0% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $79.2 billion; expenditures $102.0 billion,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion (FY88 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $127.2 billion (f.o.b., 1989);
|
||
commodities--newsprint, wood pulp, timber, grain, crude petroleum,
|
||
natural gas, ferrous and nonferrous ores, motor vehicles;
|
||
partners--US, Japan, UK, FRG, other EC, USSR
|
||
|
||
Imports: $116.5 billion (c.i.f., 1989);
|
||
commodities--processed foods, beverages, crude petroleum, chemicals,
|
||
industrial machinery, motor vehicles, durable consumer goods, electronic
|
||
computers;
|
||
partners--US, Japan, UK, FRG, other EC, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico
|
||
|
||
External debt: $247 billion (1987)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 103,746,000 kW capacity; 472,580 million kWh produced,
|
||
17,960 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and
|
||
paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum
|
||
and natural gas
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 3% of GDP; one of the world's major producers
|
||
and exporters of grain (wheat and barley); key source of US agricultural
|
||
imports; large forest resources cover 35% of total land area; commercial
|
||
fisheries provide annual catch of 1.5 million metric tons, of which 75% is
|
||
exported
|
||
|
||
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic
|
||
drug market
|
||
|
||
Aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-87), $2.2 billion
|
||
|
||
Currency: Canadian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Canadian dollar
|
||
(Can$) = 100 cents
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1--1.1714 (January
|
||
1990), 1.1840 (1989), 1.2307 (1988), 1.3260 (1987), 1.3895 (1986),
|
||
1.3655 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 80,095 km total; 79,917 km 1.435-meter standard gauge
|
||
(includes 129 km electrified); 178 km 0.915-meter narrow gauge (mostly unused);
|
||
two major transcontinental freight railway systems--Canadian National
|
||
(government owned) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service--VIA
|
||
(government operated)
|
||
|
||
Highways: 884,272 km total; 712,936 km surfaced (250,023 km paved),
|
||
171,336 km earth
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 3,000 km, including St. Lawrence Seaway
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: oil, 23,564 km total crude and refined; natural gas, 74,980 km
|
||
|
||
Ports: Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick),
|
||
St. John's (Newfoundland), Toronto, Vancouver
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 555,749 GRT/774,914
|
||
DWT; includes 1 passenger, 5 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 12 cargo,
|
||
2 railcar carrier, 1 refrigerated cargo, 8 roll-on/roll-off, 1 container,
|
||
29 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 6 chemical tanker,
|
||
1 specialized tanker, 10 bulk; note--does not include ships used
|
||
exclusively in the Great Lakes
|
||
ships
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 636 major transport aircraft; Air Canada is the major carrier
|
||
|
||
Airports: 1,359 total, 1,117 usable; 442 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
4 with runways over 3,659 m; 30 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 322 with runways
|
||
1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: excellent service provided by modern media; 18.0
|
||
million telephones; stations--900 AM, 29 FM, 53 (1,400 repeaters) TV; 5 coaxial
|
||
submarine cables; over 300 satellite earth stations operating in
|
||
INTELSAT (including 4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and domestic
|
||
systems
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Mobile Command, Maritime Command, Air Command, Communications
|
||
Command, Canadian Forces Europe, Training Commands
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 7,174,119; 6,251,492 fit for military
|
||
service; 187,894 reach military age (17) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 2.0% of GDP, or $10 billion (1989 est.)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Cape Verde
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 4,030 km2; land area: 4,030 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 965 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);
|
||
|
||
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: temperate; warm, dry, summer precipitation very erratic
|
||
|
||
Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone, kaolin,
|
||
fish
|
||
|
||
Land use: 9% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 6% meadows and pastures;
|
||
NEGL% forest and woodland; 85% other; includes 1% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: subject to prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure
|
||
visibility; volcanically and seismically active; deforestation; overgrazing
|
||
|
||
Note: strategic location 500 km from African coast near major
|
||
north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air
|
||
refueling site
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 374,984 (July 1990), growth rate 3.0% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 49 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: - 8 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 65 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 59 years male, 63 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Cape Verdean(s); adjective--Cape Verdean
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: about 71% Creole (mulatto), 28% African, 1% European
|
||
|
||
Religion: Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs
|
||
|
||
Language: Portuguese and Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West African
|
||
words
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 48% (1986)
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.); 57% agriculture
|
||
(mostly subsistence), 29% services, 14% industry (1981); 51% of
|
||
population of working age (1985)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: Trade Unions of Cape Verde Unity Center (UNTC-CS)
|
||
closely associated with ruling party
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Republic of Cape Verde
|
||
|
||
Type: republic
|
||
|
||
Capital: Praia
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 12 districts (concelhos, singular--concelho);
|
||
Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina,
|
||
Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal; there may be 2 new districts named
|
||
Porto Novo and Santa Cruz
|
||
|
||
Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 7 September 1980, amended 12 February 1981 and
|
||
December 1988
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy minister,
|
||
Council of Ministers (cabinet)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly
|
||
(Assembleia Nacional Popular)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de
|
||
Justia)
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--President Aristides Maria PEREIRA (since 5 July 1975);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Prime Minister Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES, (since
|
||
5 July 1975); Deputy Minister Aguinaldo Liboa RAMOS (since NA February
|
||
1990)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: only party--African Party for
|
||
Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Aristides Maria Pereira, secretary
|
||
general
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 15
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held 13 January 1986 (next to be held January
|
||
1991);
|
||
results--President Aristides Maria Pereira (PAICV) was reelected without
|
||
opposition;
|
||
|
||
National People's Assembly--last held 7 December 1985 (next
|
||
to be held December 1990);
|
||
results--PAICV is the only party;
|
||
seats--(83 total) PAICV 83
|
||
|
||
Communists: a few Communists and some sympathizers
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO,
|
||
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IPU, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jose Luis FERNANDES LOPES;
|
||
Chancery at 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007;
|
||
telephone (202) 965-6820; there is a Cape Verdean Consulate General in Boston;
|
||
US--Ambassador Terry McNAMARA; Embassy at Rua Hojl Ya
|
||
Yenna 81, Praia (mailing address is C. P. 201, Praia); telephone
|
||
<EFBFBD>238<EFBFBD> 614-363 or 253
|
||
|
||
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical
|
||
red band on the hoist side; in the upper portion of the red band is a black
|
||
five-pointed star framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell; uses the
|
||
popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Guinea-Bissau
|
||
which is longer and has an unadorned black star centered in the red band
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource
|
||
base, a 17-year drought, and a high birth rate. The economy is
|
||
service oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for
|
||
60% of GDP during the period 1984-86. Although nearly 70% of the population
|
||
lives in rural areas, agriculture's share of GDP is only 16%; the
|
||
fishing and manufacturing sectors are 4% each. About 90% of food must be
|
||
imported. The fishing potential of the islands is not fully exploited
|
||
(the fish catch--mostly lobster and tuna--came to only 10,000 tons in
|
||
1985). Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by
|
||
remittances from emigrants, cash grants, food aid, and foreign loans.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $158 million, per capita $494; real growth rate 6.1% (1987)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.8% (1987)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 25% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $80 million; expenditures $87
|
||
million, including capital expenditures of $45 million (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $8.9 million (f.o.b., 1987);
|
||
commodities--fish, bananas, salt;
|
||
partners--Portugal, Angola, Algeria, Belgium/Luxembourg,
|
||
Italy
|
||
|
||
Imports: $124
|
||
million (c.i.f., 1987);
|
||
commodities--petroleum, foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products;
|
||
partners--Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, France, US, FRG
|
||
|
||
External debt: $140 million (December 1988)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1986 est.)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 14,000 kW capacity; 18 million kWh produced,
|
||
50 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industry: fish processing, salt mining, clothing factories, ship repair
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP; largely subsistence farming;
|
||
bananas are the only export crop; other crops--corn, beans, sweet
|
||
potatoes, coffee; growth potential of agricultural sector limited by
|
||
poor soils and limited rainfall; annual food imports required; fish catch
|
||
provides for both domestic consumption and small exports
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY75-88), $83 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $540 million;
|
||
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $12 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
|
||
$36 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Cape Verdean escudo (plural--escudos); 1 Cape Verdean
|
||
escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per
|
||
US$1--72.31 (February 1990), 74.86 (December 1989), 72.01 (1988), 72.5 (1987),
|
||
76.56 (1986), 85.38 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Ports: Mindelo and Praia
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 5 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,308
|
||
GRT/16,172 DWT
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 6 total, 6 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with
|
||
runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: interisland radio relay system, high-frequency radio
|
||
to mainland Portugal and Guinea-Bissau; 1,740 telephones; stations--5 AM, 1 FM,
|
||
1 TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP); Army, Navy, and Air
|
||
Force are separate components of FARP
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 68,776; 40,731 fit for military service
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 11.8% of GDP (1981)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Cayman Islands
|
||
(dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 260 km2; land area: 260 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: none
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 160 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 3 nm
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and
|
||
cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
|
||
|
||
Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
|
||
|
||
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 8% meadows and pastures;
|
||
23% forest and woodland; 69% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: within the Caribbean hurricane belt
|
||
|
||
Note: important location between Cuba and Central America
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 26,356 (July 1990), growth rate 4.3% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 33 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Caymanian(s); adjective--Caymanian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 40% mixed, 20% white, 20% black, 20% expatriates of
|
||
various ethnic groups
|
||
|
||
Religion: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican,
|
||
Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
|
||
|
||
Language: English
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 98%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 8,061; 18.7% service workers, 18.6% clerical, 12.5%
|
||
construction, 6.7% finance and investment, 5.9% directors and business managers
|
||
(1979)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: Global Seaman's Union; Cayman All Trade Union
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: none
|
||
|
||
Type: dependent territory of the UK
|
||
|
||
Capital: George Town
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 12 districts; Bodden Town, Creek, East End,
|
||
George Town, Jacksons, North Side, Prospect, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay,
|
||
West Bay, West End
|
||
|
||
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
|
||
|
||
Legal system: British common law and local statutes
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 1959, revised 1972
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July), 3 July 1989
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented
|
||
by Governor Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987);
|
||
|
||
Head of Government--Governor and President of the Executive Council
|
||
Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
Legislative Assembly--last held NA November 1988 (next to be held
|
||
November 1992); results--percent of vote NA;
|
||
seats--(15 total, 12 elected)
|
||
|
||
Communists: none
|
||
|
||
Member of: Commonwealth
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK,
|
||
Caymanian interests in the US are represented by the UK; US--none
|
||
|
||
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
|
||
the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the
|
||
flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three
|
||
stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the
|
||
motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP
|
||
and 75% of export earnings) and offshore financial services, with
|
||
the tourist industry aimed at the luxury market and catering
|
||
mainly to visitors from North America. About 90% of the islands' food and
|
||
consumer goods needs must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest
|
||
standards of living in the region.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $238 million, per capita $10,000 (1989 est.); real growth
|
||
rate 12% (1987 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1986)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: NA%
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $46.2 million; expenditures $47.0 million, including
|
||
capital expenditures of $9.1 million (1986)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $2.2 million (f.o.b., 1986 est.);
|
||
commodities--turtle products, manufactured consumer goods;
|
||
partners--mostly US
|
||
|
||
Imports: $134 million (c.i.f., 1986 est.);
|
||
commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured goods;
|
||
partners--US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
|
||
|
||
External debt: $15 million (1986)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 59,000 kW capacity; 213 million kWh produced,
|
||
8,960 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, real estate
|
||
and construction
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle
|
||
farming
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $26.7 million;
|
||
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87),
|
||
$32.2 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Caymanian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Caymanian dollar
|
||
(CI$) = 100 cents
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1--0.835 (fixed rate)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 160 km of main roads
|
||
|
||
Ports: George Town, Cayman Brac
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 355,055 GRT/576,622
|
||
DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 8 cargo, 8 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 petroleum,
|
||
oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 1
|
||
liquefied gas carrier, 8 bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry
|
||
|
||
Airports: 3 total; 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: 35,000 telephones; telephone system uses 1 submarine
|
||
coaxial cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to link islands and
|
||
access international services; stations--2 AM, 1 FM, no TV
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
|
||
.pa
|
||
Central African Republic
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 622,980 km2; land area: 622,980 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 5,203 km total; Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km,
|
||
Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km, Zaire 1,577 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
|
||
|
||
Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills
|
||
in northeast and southwest
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil
|
||
|
||
Land use: 3% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 5% meadows and pastures;
|
||
64% forest and woodland; 28% other
|
||
|
||
Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas;
|
||
poaching has diminished reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges;
|
||
desertification
|
||
|
||
Note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 2,877,365 (July 1990), growth rate 2.6% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 18 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 141 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 45 years male, 48 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 5.6 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Central African(s); adjective--Central African
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: about 80 ethnic groups, the majority of which have
|
||
related ethnic and linguistic characteristics; 34% Baya, 27% Banda, 10% Sara,
|
||
21% Mandjia, 4% Mboum, 4% M'Baka; 6,500 Europeans, of whom 3,600 are French
|
||
|
||
Religion: 24% indigenous beliefs, 25% Protestant, 25% Roman Catholic,
|
||
15% Muslim, 11% other; animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence
|
||
the Christian majority
|
||
|
||
Language: French (official); Sangho (lingua franca and national
|
||
language); Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 40.2%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 775,413 (1986 est.); 85% agriculture, 9% commerce and
|
||
services, 3% industry, 3% government; about 64,000 salaried workers;
|
||
55% of population of working age (1985)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 1% of labor force
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Central African Republic (no short-form name);
|
||
abbreviated CAR
|
||
|
||
Type: republic, one-party presidential regime since 1986
|
||
|
||
Capital: Bangui
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures,
|
||
singular--prefecture) and 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures
|
||
economiques, singular--prefecture economique); Bamingui-Bangoran,
|
||
Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou,
|
||
Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham,
|
||
Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga; note--there may be a new autonomous commune
|
||
of Bangui
|
||
|
||
Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France; formerly Central African
|
||
Empire)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 21 November 1986
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on French law
|
||
|
||
National holiday: National Day (proclamation of the republic),
|
||
1 December (1958)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress consists of an upper house or
|
||
Economic and Regional Council (Conseil Economique et Regional) and a
|
||
lower house or National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government--President Andre-Dieudonne
|
||
KOLINGBA (since 1 September 1981)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: only party--Centrafrican Democrtic
|
||
Rally Party (RDC), Andre-Dieudonne Kolingba
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age 21
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held 21 November 1986 (next to be held November
|
||
1993);
|
||
results--President Kolingba was reelected without opposition;
|
||
|
||
National Assembly--last held 31 July 1987 (next to be
|
||
held July 1992);
|
||
results--RDC is the only party;
|
||
seats--(total) RDC 52
|
||
|
||
Communists: small number of Communist sympathizers
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, Conference of East and Central African
|
||
States, EAMA, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD,
|
||
ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAU, OCAM, UDEAC, UEAC, UN,
|
||
UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jean-Pierre SOHAHONG-KOMBET;
|
||
Chancery at 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
|
||
483-7800 or 7801;
|
||
US--Ambassador Daniel H. SIMPSON; Embassy at Avenue du President
|
||
David Dacko, Bangui (mailing address is B. P. 924, Bangui);
|
||
telephone 61-02-00 or 61-25-78, 61-43-33
|
||
|
||
Flag: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow
|
||
with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the
|
||
hoist side of the blue band
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the poorest
|
||
countries in Africa, with a per capita income of roughly $450 in 1988.
|
||
Subsistence agriculture, including forestry, is the backbone of the economy,
|
||
with over 70% of the population living in the countryside. In 1988 the
|
||
agricultural sector generated about 40% of GDP, mining and manufacturing 14%,
|
||
utilities and construction 4%, and services 41%. Agricultural products accounted
|
||
for about 60% of export earnings and the diamond industry for 30%. Important
|
||
constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a
|
||
poor transportation infrastructure, and a weak human resource base. Multilateral
|
||
and bilateral development assistance plays a major role in providing capital
|
||
for new investment.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $1.27 billion, per capita $453; real growth rate 2.0%
|
||
(1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 4.2% (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 30% in Bangui (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $132 million; current expenditures $305 million,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $NA million (1989 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $138 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.);
|
||
commodities--diamonds, cotton, coffee, timber, tobacco;
|
||
partners--France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, US
|
||
|
||
Imports: $285 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.);
|
||
commodities--food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical
|
||
equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods,
|
||
industrial products;
|
||
partners--France, other EC, Japan, Algeria, Yugoslavia
|
||
|
||
External debt: $660 million (December 1989)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: 1.9% (1987 est.)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 35,000 kW capacity; 84 million kWh produced,
|
||
30 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: sawmills, breweries, diamond mining, textiles,
|
||
footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; self-sufficient in food production
|
||
except for grain; commercial crops--cotton, coffee, tobacco, timber; food
|
||
crops--manioc, yams, millet, corn, bananas
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $44 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.3 billion;
|
||
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $6 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
|
||
$38 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural--francs);
|
||
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
|
||
US$1--287.99 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987),
|
||
346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 22,000 km total; 458 km bituminous, 10,542 km improved earth,
|
||
11,000 unimproved earth
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of
|
||
shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 66 total, 49 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 22 with
|
||
runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: fair system; network relies primarily on radio
|
||
relay links, with low-capacity, low-powered radiocommunication also used;
|
||
6,000 telephones; stations--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
|
||
earth station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army, Air Force
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 642,207; 335,863 fit for military service
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 1.8% of GDP, or $23 million (1989 est.)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Chad
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 1,284,000 km2; land area: 1,259,200 km2
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of California
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 5,968 km total; Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African
|
||
Republic 1,197 km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
|
||
|
||
Disputes: Libya claims and occupies a small portion of the Aozou Strip in
|
||
far north; exact locations of the Chad-Niger-Nigeria and Cameroon-Chad-Nigeria
|
||
tripoints in Lake Chad have not been determined--since the boundary has
|
||
not been demarcated, border incidents have resulted
|
||
|
||
Climate: tropical in south, desert in north
|
||
|
||
Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in
|
||
northwest, lowlands in south
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: small quantities of crude oil (unexploited but
|
||
exploration beginning), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
|
||
|
||
Land use: 2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 36% meadows and
|
||
pastures; 11% forest and woodland; 51% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; drought and
|
||
desertification adversely affecting south; subject to plagues of locusts
|
||
|
||
Note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body
|
||
in the Sahel
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 5,017,431 (July 1990), growth rate 2.1% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 42 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 22 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 136 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 38 years male, 40 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 5.3 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Chadian(s); adjective--Chadian
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: some 200 distinct ethnic groups, most of whom are
|
||
Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, and
|
||
Maba) in the north and center and non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye,
|
||
Moudang, Moussei, Massa) in the south; some 150,000 nonindigenous, of whom
|
||
1,000 are French
|
||
|
||
Religion: 44% Muslim, 33% Christian, 23% indigenous beliefs,
|
||
animism
|
||
|
||
Language: French and Arabic (official); Sara and Sango in south; more
|
||
than 100 different languages and dialects are spoken
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 25.3%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: NA; 85% agriculture (engaged in unpaid subsistence farming,
|
||
herding, and fishing)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: about 20% of wage labor force
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Republic of Chad
|
||
|
||
Type: republic
|
||
|
||
Capital: N'Djamena
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures,
|
||
singular--prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi,
|
||
Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi,
|
||
Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
|
||
|
||
Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 22 December 1989
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law;
|
||
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: National Day (founding of the Third Republic),
|
||
7 June (1982)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: unicameral National Consultative Council
|
||
(Conseil National Consultatif)
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government--President Hissein HABRE
|
||
(since 19 June 1982)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: National Union for Independence and
|
||
Revolution (UNIR) established June 1984 with Habre as President;
|
||
numerous dissident groups (most significant opponents have returned
|
||
to the government since mid-1986)
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal at age NA
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held 10 December 1989 (next to be held December
|
||
1996);
|
||
results--President Habre was reelected without opposition
|
||
|
||
Communists: no front organizations or underground party; probably a few
|
||
Communists and some sympathizers
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: NA
|
||
|
||
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CEAO, Conference of East and Central African States,
|
||
EAMA, ECA, EC (associate), FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic
|
||
Development Bank, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, Lake Chad Basin
|
||
Commission, NAM, OAU, OCAM, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Mahamat Ali ADOUM; Chancery at
|
||
2002 R Steet NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202) 462-4009;
|
||
US--Ambassador-designate Richard W. BOGOSIAN; Charge d'Affaires,
|
||
Julius WALKER; Embassy at Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena (mailing address
|
||
is B. P. 413, N'Djamena); telephone <20>235<33> (51) 32-69 or 35-13,
|
||
28-62, 23-29, 32-29, 30-94, 28-47
|
||
|
||
Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
|
||
similar to the flag of Andorra which has a national coat of arms featuring a
|
||
quartered shield centered in the yellow band; also similar to the flag of
|
||
Romania which has a national coat of arms featuring a mountain landscape
|
||
centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: The climate, geographic location, and lack of infrastructure
|
||
and natural resources potential make Chad one of the most underdeveloped
|
||
countries in the world. Its economy is slowly recovering from the ravaging
|
||
effects of prolonged civil war, conflict with Libya, drought, and food
|
||
shortages. In 1986 real GDP returned to its 1977 level, with cotton, the major
|
||
cash crop, accounting for 43% of exports. Over 80% of the work force
|
||
is employed in subsistence farming and fishing. Industry is based almost
|
||
entirely on the processing of agricultural products, including cotton,
|
||
sugarcane, and cattle. Chad is still highly dependent on foreign aid, with its
|
||
economy in trouble and many regions suffering from shortages.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $902 million, per capita $190; real growth rate 7.0% (1988)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 3.0% (1987)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: NA
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $61 million; expenditures $85 million, including
|
||
capital expenditures of NA (1988 est.)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $432 million (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--cotton 43%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish;
|
||
partners--France, Nigeria, Cameroon
|
||
|
||
Imports: $214 million (c.i.f., 1988);
|
||
commodities--machinery and transportation equipment 39%,
|
||
industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%;
|
||
partners--US, France
|
||
|
||
External debt: $360 million (December 1989)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate - 7.0% (1986)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 38,000 kW capacity; 70 million kWh produced, 14 kWh
|
||
per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: cotton textile mills, slaughterhouses, brewery, natron
|
||
(sodium carbonate)
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for 45% of GDP; largely subsistence farming; cotton
|
||
most important cash crop; food crops include sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice,
|
||
potatoes, manioc; livestock--cattle, sheep, goats, camels;
|
||
self-sufficient in food in years of adequate rainfall
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $178 million;
|
||
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87),
|
||
$1.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $28 million; Communist countries
|
||
(1970-88), $71 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural--francs);
|
||
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
|
||
US$1--287.99 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987),
|
||
346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Highways: 31,322 km total; 32 km bituminous; 7,300 km gravel and laterite;
|
||
remainder unimproved
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 2,000 km navigable
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 71 total, 55 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 24 with
|
||
runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: fair system of radiocommunication stations for
|
||
intercity links; 5,000 telephones; stations--3 AM, 1 FM, limited TV
|
||
service; many facilities are inoperative; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
|
||
station
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,163,312; 603,923 fit for military
|
||
service; 50,255 reach military age (20) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (1987)
|
||
.pa
|
||
Chile
|
||
Geography
|
||
Total area: 756,950 km2; land area: 748,800 km2; includes Isla de
|
||
Pascua (Easter Island) and Isla Sala y Gomez
|
||
|
||
Comparative area: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
|
||
|
||
Land boundaries: 6,171 km total; Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km,
|
||
Peru 160 km
|
||
|
||
Coastline: 6,435 km
|
||
|
||
Maritime claims:
|
||
|
||
Contiguous zone: 24 nm;
|
||
|
||
Continental shelf: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
|
||
|
||
Territorial sea: 12 nm
|
||
|
||
Disputes: short section of the southern boundary with Argentina is
|
||
indefinite; Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South
|
||
Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884;
|
||
dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights; territorial claim in
|
||
Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine
|
||
claim
|
||
|
||
Climate: temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
|
||
|
||
Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes
|
||
in east
|
||
|
||
Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious
|
||
metals, molybdenum
|
||
|
||
Land use: 7% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 16% meadows and
|
||
pastures; 21% forest and woodland; 56% other; includes 2% irrigated
|
||
|
||
Environment: subject to severe earthquakes, active volcanism, tsunami;
|
||
Atacama Desert one of world's driest regions; desertification
|
||
|
||
Note: strategic location relative to sea lanes between
|
||
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage)
|
||
|
||
People
|
||
Population: 13,082,842 (July 1990), growth rate 1.6% (1990)
|
||
|
||
Birth rate: 21 births/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
|
||
|
||
Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
|
||
|
||
Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 77 years female (1990)
|
||
|
||
Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (1990)
|
||
|
||
Nationality: noun--Chilean(s); adjective--Chilean
|
||
|
||
Ethnic divisions: 95% European and European-Indian, 3% Indian, 2% other
|
||
|
||
Religion: 89% Roman Catholic, 11% Protestant, and small Jewish
|
||
population
|
||
|
||
Language: Spanish
|
||
|
||
Literacy: 94%
|
||
|
||
Labor force: 3,840,000; 38.6% services (including 12% government),
|
||
31.3% industry and commerce; 15.9% agriculture, forestry, and fishing;
|
||
8.7% mining; 4.4% construction (1985)
|
||
|
||
Organized labor: 10% of labor force (1989)
|
||
|
||
Government
|
||
Long-form name: Republic of Chile
|
||
|
||
Type: republic
|
||
|
||
Capital: Santiago
|
||
|
||
Administrative divisions: 13 regions (regiones, singular--region);
|
||
Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania,
|
||
Atacama, Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos,
|
||
Magallanes y Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana, Tarapaca,
|
||
Valparaiso
|
||
|
||
Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain)
|
||
|
||
Constitution: 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981;
|
||
amended 30 July 1989
|
||
|
||
Legal system: based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and
|
||
subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of
|
||
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
|
||
jurisdiction
|
||
|
||
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
|
||
|
||
Executive branch: president, Cabinet
|
||
|
||
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso
|
||
Nacional) consisting of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
|
||
or Chamber of Deputies
|
||
|
||
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
|
||
|
||
Leaders:
|
||
Chief of State and Head of Government--President Patricio
|
||
AYLWIN (since 11 March 1990)
|
||
|
||
Political parties and leaders: National Renovation (RN), Sergio
|
||
Jarpa, president; Radical Party (PR), Enrique Silva Cimma;
|
||
Social Democratic Party (PSD), Eugenio Velasco; Christian Democratic
|
||
Party (PDC), Andres Zaldivar; Party for Democracy, Ricardo Lagos;
|
||
Socialist Party, Clodomiro Almeyda; other parties are
|
||
Movement of United Popular Action (MAPU), Victor Barrueto;
|
||
Christian Left (IC), Luis Maira; Communist Party of Chile (PCCh),
|
||
Volodia Teitelboim; Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR) is
|
||
splintered, no single leader; several leftist and far left parties
|
||
formed a new coalition in November 1988 with Luis Maira as president;
|
||
the 17-party Concertation of Parties for Democracy backed
|
||
Patricio Aylwin's presidential candidacy in December 1989
|
||
|
||
Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18
|
||
|
||
Elections:
|
||
President--last held 14 December 1989 (next to be held December
|
||
1993 or January 1994);
|
||
results--Patricio Aylwin 55.2%, Hernan Buchi 29.4%, other 15.4%;
|
||
|
||
Senate--last held 14 December 1989 (next to be held December
|
||
1993 or January 1994); seats--(47 total, 38 elected)
|
||
17-party Concertation of Parties for Democracy 22;
|
||
|
||
Chamber of Deputies--last held 14 December 1989 (next to be held
|
||
December 1993 or January 1994); seats--(120 total)
|
||
Concertation of Parties for Democracy 69
|
||
|
||
Communists: 120,000 when PCCh was legal in 1973; 50,000 (est.) active
|
||
militants
|
||
|
||
Other political or pressure groups: revitalized university student
|
||
federations at all major universities dominated by opposition political groups;
|
||
labor--United Labor Central (CUT) includes trade unionists from the
|
||
country's five-largest labor confederations; Roman Catholic Church
|
||
|
||
Member of: CCC, CIPEC, ECOSOC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
|
||
ICAO, IDA, IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
|
||
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, LAIA, OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
|
||
WMO, WSG, WTO
|
||
|
||
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Octavio ERRAZURIZ; Chancery
|
||
at 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202) 785-1746;
|
||
there are Chilean Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
|
||
New York, and San Francisco;
|
||
US--Ambassador Charles A. GILLESPIE, Jr.; Embassy at Codina Building,
|
||
1343 Agustinas, Santiago (mailing address is APO Miami 34033);
|
||
telephone <20>56<35> (2) 710133 or 710190, 710326, 710375
|
||
|
||
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue
|
||
square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white
|
||
band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center; design was based
|
||
on the US flag
|
||
|
||
Economy
|
||
Overview: In 1989 the economy grew at the rate of 9.9%, reflecting
|
||
substantial growth in industry, agriculture, and construction. Copper
|
||
accounts for nearly 50% of export revenues; Chile's economic well-being
|
||
thus remains highly dependent on international copper prices. Unemployment
|
||
and inflation rates have declined from their peaks in 1982 to 5.3% and
|
||
21.4%, respectively, in 1989. The major long-term economic problem is
|
||
how to sustain growth in the face of political uncertainties.
|
||
|
||
GDP: $25.3 billion, per capita $1,970; real growth rate 9.9% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 21.4% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Unemployment rate: 5.3% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Budget: revenues $4.9 billion; expenditures $5.1 billion,
|
||
including capital expenditures of $0.6 billion (1986)
|
||
|
||
Exports: $7.0 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--copper 48%, industrial products 33%, molybdenum, iron ore,
|
||
wood pulp, fishmeal, fruits;
|
||
partners--EC 34%, US 22%, Japan 10%, Brazil 7%
|
||
|
||
Imports: $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
|
||
commodities--petroleum, wheat, capital goods, spare parts, raw materials;
|
||
partners--EC 23%, US 20%, Japan 10%, Brazil 9%
|
||
|
||
External debt: $16.3 billion (December 1989)
|
||
|
||
Industrial production: growth rate 7.4% (1989)
|
||
|
||
Electricity: 4,044,000 kW capacity; 17,710 million kWh produced,
|
||
1,380 kWh per capita (1989)
|
||
|
||
Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron
|
||
and steel, wood and wood products
|
||
|
||
Agriculture: accounts for about 8% of GDP (including fishing and
|
||
forestry); major exporter of fruit, fish, and timber products; major
|
||
crops--wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, deciduous fruit;
|
||
livestock products--beef, poultry, wool; self-sufficient in most foods;
|
||
1986 fish catch of 5.6 million metric tons net agricultural importer
|
||
|
||
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $521 million; Western
|
||
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.3 billion;
|
||
Communist countries (1970-88), $386 million
|
||
|
||
Currency: Chilean peso (plural--pesos);
|
||
1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos
|
||
|
||
Exchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1--296.68 (January 1990),
|
||
267.16 (1989), 245.05 (1988), 219.54 (1987), 193.02 (1986), 161.08 (1985)
|
||
|
||
Fiscal year: calendar year
|
||
|
||
Communications
|
||
Railroads: 8,613 km total; 4,257 km 1.676-meter gauge, 135 km 1.435-meter
|
||
standard gauge, 4,221 km 1.000-meter gauge; electrification, 1,578 km
|
||
1.676-meter gauge, 76 km 1.000-meter gauge
|
||
|
||
Highways: 79,025 km total; 9,913 km paved, 33,140 km gravel, 35,972 km
|
||
improved and unimproved earth (1984)
|
||
|
||
Inland waterways: 725 km
|
||
|
||
Pipelines: crude oil, 755 km; refined products, 785 km;
|
||
natural gas, 320 km
|
||
|
||
Ports: Antofagasta, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Valparaiso,
|
||
San Antonio, Talcahuano, Arica
|
||
|
||
Merchant marine: 35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 498,354 GRT/804,809
|
||
DWT; includes 13 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
|
||
2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied
|
||
gas, 3 combination ore/oil, 10 bulk; note--in addition, 1 naval tanker and 1
|
||
military transport are sometimes used commercially
|
||
|
||
Civil air: 22 major transport aircraft
|
||
|
||
Airports: 392 total, 352 usable; 49 with permanent-surface runways;
|
||
none with runways over 3,659 m; 11 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
|
||
57 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
|
||
|
||
Telecommunications: modern telephone system based on extensive radio relay
|
||
facilities; 768,000 telephones; stations--159 AM, no FM, 131 TV, 11 shortwave;
|
||
satellite stations--2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic
|
||
|
||
Defense Forces
|
||
Branches: Army of the Nation, National Navy, Air Force of the Nation,
|
||
Carabineros of Chile
|
||
|
||
Military manpower: males 15-49, 3,491,854; 2,610,048 fit for military
|
||
service; 118,569 reach military age (19) annually
|
||
|
||
Defense expenditures: 4.0% of GDP (1987)
|
||
.pa
|
||
|